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6 unusual facts about Howard Stansbury


Howard Stansbury

Rather than follow the standard Oregon Trail route from Fort Bridger over South Pass through the Sweetwater River valley, Stansbury wanted to scout a more direct route east.

In addition to Uta stansburiana, Stansbury was also honored with Purshia stansburiana (cliff-rose).

Following the advice of Jim Bridger and local trappers and traders, the expedition followed the Blacks Fork River east, crossed the Green River near the present town of Green River, Wyoming and proceeded east along the Bitter Creek valley, crossing the Red Desert, and skirting the northern side of Elk Mountain across the Laramie Plains.

Lake Point, Utah

The US Army sent Captain Howard Stansbury to the area in 1849 to evaluate emigration trails and scout for possible passages for a transcontinental railroad.

Overland Trail

In 1851 U.S. Army Topographical Engineer Captain Howard Stansbury returning east from an expedition to the Salt Lake Valley described a route from Fort Bridger via the Bitter Creek valley and Laramie Plains to the North Platte River.

Stansbury Island

Stansbury Island was named after Howard Stansbury, the leader of a government expedition that surveyed the lake in 1849.



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