Frémont and His Scouts

In 1843-1844 Capt. John C. Fremont explored the West, named the Old Spanish Trail and the Great Basin, and traveled first to Oregon, then south through California, and then back east through the Mojave Desert to Utah and Colorado. Three noted scouts guided the party: Thomas "Broken Hand" Fitzpatrick, a trapper with deep knowledge of Plains tribes; Kit Carson, who knew the trails of the South-west; and Alexis Godey, a mountain man and trapper familiar with the northern Rocky Mountains. Although these guides were not familiar with the Mojave Desert, they could read the ground, find water and safe campsites, and faced danger fearlessly. In May 1844, Fremont followed the Spanish Trail down the Mojave River, north to the Amargosa River, and east to Utah by way of Las Vegas Valley and the Virgin River. The map of his route included Las Vegas Springs, the first time Las Vegas appeared on any map, and Charles Preuss charted Las Vegas on a map for the first time during Fremont's expedition.

Spring Valley, Nevada · United States