1874 Map of a Military Reconnaissance, in North Western Wyoming...
Map of a Military Reconnaissance, in North Western Wyoming made under the direction of Brig. Gen. E.O.C.Ord, Commanding the Depart of the Platte…
By: W.A. Jones
Date: 1874 (published) Washington, D.C.
Dimensions: 17.8 x 30.5 inches (45.2 x 77.5 cm)
A rare map of of Western Wyoming from Fort Bridger, North to Yellowstone that was produced following the William A. Jones Expedition. Worldcat lists only five other institutional examples of this map and public sales records are scarce with OldMaps.com noting just one in 1990.
The first successful American exploration of the Yellowstone was commenced by Hayden in 1871. The following year on March 1, 1872, the Act of Dedication set apart a large tract of land lying near the headwaters of the Yellowstone River as a public park. In the summer of 1873, the Jones expedition was tasked with mapping a suitable wagon route between the Union Pacific Railroad and Yellowstone.
The expedition included prominent scientists of the era, botanist Charles Parry and geologist Theodore Comstock as well chemists, topographers, astronomers, army infantry, eight wagons and sixty-six mules. The expedition was successful in discovering and documenting many features of western Wyoming including Togwotee Pass, named after Togwotee, a subchief under Chief Washakie of the Sheepeater tribe (a branch of the Shoshones) that led Captain William Jones and the expedition over the pass. The pass was no mystery to Togwotee as it had served as a common trade route among native tribes for generations prior.
Condition: This map is in A condition, originally folded, now flattened and linen-backed for preservation purposes.
Inventory #11655
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