Inspired by the Mountain Men of Alfred Jacob Miller's 1837 Rendezvous Paintings
In 1837, artist Alfred Jacob Miller accompanied Scottish adventurer William Drummond Stewart to the Rocky Mountain fur traders' rendezvous near the Green River in present-day Wyoming. Miller became the only artist known to have attended and documented one of the original Rocky Mountain rendezvous gatherings held between 1825 and 1840.
His remarkable sketches and subsequent paintings provide invaluable firsthand visual evidence of the clothing, hats, equipment, camps, and daily activities of mountain men and their Native American trading partners.
One striking characteristic of Miller's work is the variety of frontier clothing and headwear. Mountain men did not dress in an identical styles of dress. Broad-brimmed felt hats, slouching brims, differently shaped crowns, fur caps, and other forms of headgear reflected personal preference, practical experience, and the availability of clothing and trade goods.
That individuality is exactly what makes a wool felt hat blank useful to today's historical reenactor. By shaping the crown, adjusting the brim, and adding personal finishing touches, you can create a hat suited to your chosen historical impression.
Historical note: These modern 100% wool felt hat blanks are intended for creating historically inspired headwear. They are not reproductions of one specific hat depicted by Miller, nor are they made from beaver fur felt, the premium hatmaking material that helped drive the original Rocky Mountain fur trade.
Explore the historical artwork and research at the Alfred Jacob Miller Online Catalogue.
Create Your Own Historical Hat Style
The versatility of these felt hat blanks makes them suitable for a broad range of historical interpretations:
- Mountain Man and Fur Trade Era: Develop a practical broad-brimmed or slouch-style hat reflecting headwear depicted during the 1820s-1840s Rocky Mountain fur trade.
- French & Indian War and Colonial Era: Create a tricorn-inspired hat by appropriately shaping and securing the brim.
- Revolutionary War and Early Republic: Adapt the crown and brim for civilian or frontier-inspired round-hat styles.
- 19th Century Frontier and Civil War Era: Create individualized slouch hats or other appropriate civilian headwear.
For historically accurate reenactment, study original artwork, surviving examples, and documentation appropriate to your specific time period, location, and character.
For additional clothing and equipment suggestions, visit Crazy Crow's Mountain Man Rendezvous Clothing and Accessories Guide.
How to Choose Your Hat Size
Measure your head circumference where your hat will normally rest, generally just above the eyebrows and ears. Compare your measurement with the size chart below before selecting your hat size.
Hat Size Chart A
| Inches |
Centimeters |
Hat Size |
Size No. |
| 21-5/8" | 55 | 6-7/8 | 52 |
| 21-7/8" | 56 | 7 | 52 |
| 22-1/4" | 57 | 7-1/8 | 54 |
| 22-5/8" | 58 | 7-1/4 | 54 |
| 23" | 59 | 7-3/8 | 56 |
| 23-1/4" | 60 | 7-1/2 | 56 |
| 23-7/8" | 61 | 7-5/8 | 58 |
Chart values retained from the existing Crazy Crow product listing. Confirm your selected size before ordering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these finished hats or hat blanks?
These are wool felt hat blanks with an existing brim and crown. They are intended to be customized into your preferred finished hat style.
Are these hats made from genuine beaver felt?
No. These hat blanks are made from 100% wool felt, not beaver fur felt. Both wool and animal fur have historically been used for making felt hats, although beaver felt was a premium material during the fur trade era.
Can I use these for a mountain man rendezvous?
Yes. They provide a practical starting point for creating a period-inspired mountain man hat. Consult historical sources for the brim shape, crown treatment, and trimming appropriate to your desired impression.
Can the same hat blank be used for other reenactment eras?
Yes. Depending on how the brim and crown are shaped and finished, these blanks can be adapted for a variety of 18th- and 19th-century historical headwear styles.
