What was Jedediah Smith famous for?

Jedediah Smith, in full Jedediah Strong Smith, (born January 6, 1799, Bainbridge, New York, U.S.—died May 27, 1831, near the Cimarron River), trader and explorer who was the first American to enter California from the east and return from it using an overland route.

What did Jedediah Smith achieve exploring?

Jedediah Smith’s explorations were significant in opening the American West and included several “firsts,” such as being the first white man to cross what would become the states of Utah and Nevada, the first to enter California by the overland route, the first to scale the High Sierras, and the first explorer to reach …

What trail did Jedediah discover?

South Pass
After 75 years of obscurity following his death, Smith was rediscovered as the American whose explorations led to the use of the 20-mile (32 km)-wide South Pass as the dominant point of crossing the Continental Divide for pioneers on the Oregon Trail.

Where did Jedediah Smith discover?

the South Pass
Smith’s most important accomplishment was his rediscovery in 1824 of the South Pass, an easy route across the Rocky Mountains in modern-day western Wyoming.

Who was the first American to see the Rocky Mountains?

The Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806) was the first scientific reconnaissance of the Rocky Mountains. Specimens were collected for contemporary botanists, zoologists, and geologists.

Who was Jed Smith What was his impact on westward expansion?

His explorations were significant in opening the American West and he was the first white man to cross what would become Utah and Nevada, the first to enter California by the overland route, to cross the High Sierras, and the first explorer to reach Oregon overland by traveling up the California coast.

Where did Jedediah Smith cross the Sierra Nevada Mountains?

In the spring of 1827, he left his party on the Stanislaus River, and taking two trappers, traversed the Sierra Nevada Mountains over Border Ruffian Pass. He then crossed the Great Basin Desert through Nevada, roughly following the route of present-day US Highway 6.

Why was the South Pass important?

South Pass was perhaps the most important landmark along the emigrant trails. It marked the end of the long ascent to the Continental Divide and the emigrants’ arrival at the frontier of the Oregon country. It was also thought to be the halfway point along the trail.

Why was the discovery of the South Pass in 1813 important?

South Pass, located in southwest Wyoming, was the key that opened the door for emigrant wagons and handcarts to cross the Rocky Mountains in the early and mid-1800s.

Who was the first white man to see the Rocky Mountains?

In 1793, Sir Alexander MacKenzie became the first European to cross the Rockies. He was followed years later by the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition, which became the first scientific reconnaissance of the mountain region.