Robert Stuart

Robert Stuart was a member of Wilson Price Hunt's party called the "Astorians" leaving from Michigan in 1810. After arriving in Oregon by boat he made an overland return trip east. He headed an expedition of sixty men, two barges, and ten canoes heading east. Retracing Hunt's Route he passed through the Tetons and his men crossed South Pass. Others had crossed South Pass before, but Stuart is given credit for discovering the pass. Later mountain men were given credit for discovering South Pass.

Stuart's group continued to the Casper area where they built the first white man's shelter. Conflicts with Indians forced them to move down the Platte River where they built a second shelter near Torrington, NE. Robert Stuart's path from Torrington to South Pass along the North Platte River was the beginning of the Oregon Trail.\

Question:

Stuart's path along the North Platte River would later become known as which trail?


BACK TO WYOMING HISTORY PAGE