Robidoux Trading Post

[Ohio Joe]

Robidoux Trading Post (12 to 15 miles southwest of Scottsbluff, Nebraska) is a brief footnote in the history of the early 1850's Oregon Trail and fur trade in this area. Thought you might enjoy some pictures my wife and I took this morning when we stopped to explore this little piece of history off the beaten path of today's civilization...

Naturally I had to "ham" it up a bit in a couple of these photos... 

I don't believe there's a lot of info out there about this Trading Post, but if you have some knowledge of it - it would be nice to hear from you. 

[rollingb]

Pretty cool,.... thanks for posting the pictures.     

[Ohio Joe]

I've wondered about this place for years, Rondo... Cindy and I was down in Scottsbluff this morning, so we decided to make a run out there. History is always a great reason to visit places like this as we all know.

Here's a brief explanation of the Post I just came across, with an audio track.

http://visitscottsbluff.com/attraction/robidoux-pass-national-historic-landmark-and-trading-post-audio

[Two Steps]

Thank ya Joe...I learned a little something...again.

[Ohio Joe]

I wish we would've explored this location earlier. I don't know how many times we drove past that turn off - and always saying, "we need to go see that..."

I'm glad we finally did.

Not much left of the ol' place - just what one sees in the pictures, but we're lucky to have what we have. It does set on private land, but is open to the public. 

[Puffer]

 

[Einsiedler]

 

[Uncle Russ]

Great! I enjoyed that little MP3 Audio too!

FWIW: (Our State Parks and Recreation now have a a few Short Range AM Stations along the Lewis & Clark Trail, and at Fort Spokane.
Just pull into their Parking Lots and turn the dial to the  designated station and get a short audio description.
Same thing when driving trough the Columbia Basin on I-90, (Where there's miles and miles of Agriculture on each side of the highway...probably about 65 or more miles.) just turn your radio on what ever station the road-side signs tell you to, and they will describe the crops, their food value, and how they are cared for....absolutely great for out-of- towners coming to visit!

[Ohio Joe]

This Trading Post (Robidoux) actually pre-dates the James Bordeaux Trading Post of our (Chadron Fur Trade Days) here in Northwest Nebraska. If I recall the story correctly, Hanson did a lot of searching of actual locations before deciding on the James Bordeaux Trading Post location for the Museum of the Fur Trade... Also if I recall the story of locating the now Museum of the Fur Trade - both money and location had much to do with where the 'Fur Trade Museum' would be located.

The Museum of the Fur Trade is located on the James Bordeaux trading post, which has become an important historical site over the years. The trading post was established in the fall of 1837 as a site for the American Fur Company to conduct business with American Indians who spent their winters in the area. Bordeaux was appointed the post manager of the trading site, which he upheld until the army bought the neighboring Fort Laramie from the company and made it into a military post.

After leaving his position as manager of the trading post in 1849, Bordeaux prospered and eventually operated a store and ranch near Fort Laramie and a stock ranch on Chugwater Creek in Wyoming. Bordeaux’s son, Louis, often ran the Bordeaux Creek post in later years.

[Einsiedler]

I think Jeremiah Johnson got all outfitted there when he headed out to be a mountain man!

[Uncle Russ]

This Trading Post (Robidoux) actually pre-dates the James Bordeaux Trading Post of our (Chadron Fur Trade Days) here in Northwest Nebraska. If I recall the story correctly, Hanson did a lot of searching of actual locations before deciding on the James Bordeaux Trading Post location for the Museum of the Fur Trade... Also if I recall the story of locating the now Museum of the Fur Trade - both money and location had much to do with where the 'Fur Trade Museum' would be located.

The Museum of the Fur Trade is located on the James Bordeaux trading post, which has become an important historical site over the years. The trading post was established in the fall of 1837 as a site for the American Fur Company to conduct business with American Indians who spent their winters in the area. Bordeaux was appointed the post manager of the trading site, which he upheld until the army bought the neighboring Fort Laramie from the company and made it into a military post.

After leaving his position as manager of the trading post in 1849, Bordeaux prospered and eventually operated a store and ranch near Fort Laramie and a stock ranch on Chugwater Creek in Wyoming. Bordeaux’s son, Louis, often ran the Bordeaux Creek post in later years.

 

[Ohio Joe]

I think Jeremiah Johnson got all outfitted there when he headed out to be a mountain man!

By golly if he came up the Platte - he may have. Ol' Hollywood shortened up his trip a bit from the boat to the Post...

Ah,,, they never git anything right.

[Einsiedler]

Watch the beginning of the movie. Look for the trading post sign!   

[Ohio Joe]

Watch the beginning of the movie. Look for the trading post sign!   

I've noticed the sign before as well in the beginning of the movie where he outfits himself. Unfortunately, Hollywood (like so often happens) got the sign wrong "No Indians"

Heck, most Post Traders had Indian wife's, Robidoux was no exception.

Also about the sign where it says "No Indians" - I doubt that was on any sign back in those days when it came to the fur trade, as the Indians were a big part of it... Also, even if it was - the Indians wouldn't know what it read. I doubt most
trappers could read it also...

[Einsiedler]

Yes I agree!  Just silly! 

(My sign and movie comments were strictly off the cuff. )