Though dispatched by a traitor, Zebulon Pike’s expeditions produced maps and journals that became foundational to America’s westward expansion. His reconnaissance informed the placement of frontier forts, guided fur trade routes, and inspired generations of explorers and settlers. This post explores Pike’s unintended legacy and his role in transforming espionage into empire-building.
After years of maintaining a Rendezvous Calendar, we felt it was time to answer a often asked question: What is the Difference in a Mountain Man Rendezvous and Voyageur Rendezvous? In North American history, a rendezvous was a wilderness gathering that took place at established camps or river and lake junctions used by those involved in the fur trade. All of these rendezvous ultimately included a major transfer of furs and goods to be traded for furs. In North America during the fur trade era, from the 16th century to the mid-19th century, this included the Voyageur Rendezvous and the Mountain Man or Buckskinner Rendezvous.
The history of silver and gold heishi in Southwestern Native American jewelry is deeply rooted in cultural traditions. Heishi beads, originating from the Santo Domingo (Kewa) Pueblo in New Mexico, are among the oldest forms of jewelry in the Southwest. Traditional was made from natural materials like shells and stones, meticulously shaped into small, uniform pieces. The term "heishi" derives from the Keresan word meaning "shell bead".
John Bush, a Black American provincial soldier, and one of the first of the Lake George school of horn engravers, became renowned for his intricate and artistic powder horn engravings. His contributions to the craft were significant, though his life was short and tragically ended after being captured in 1757 at the Battle of Fort William Henry during the French and Indian War.
The "End of the Trail" image, created by American sculptor James Earle Fraser, has become an iconic symbol in the U.S. , depicting a weary Native American man on horseback, symbolizing the end of the Native American way of life & era. Fraser was born in Winona, MN, and spent much of his childhood on the Great Plains in Mitchell, SD. The sculpture was more than just a piece of art for Fraser, but a meaningful reminder of his childhood spent on the American frontier.
Rate This Article LaMaster Arms: A Place for Enthusiasts, Collectors, Historians & Builders Brian LaMaster: Master Gunsmith, Craftsman, & Artist LaMaster Arms: A Place for Enthusiasts, Collectors, Historians & Builders Brian LaMaster: Master Gunsmith, Craftsman, & Artist LaMaster Arms buys, sells and provides consultations for antique firearms [read more]
In-depth photographic study of longrifles and gunmaking in Colonial, Revolutionary, and post-Revolutionary periods. 92 rifles reviewed, with 10 or more detailed photographs. A description of each rifle accompanies the photographs, and many important dimensions are given. Text covers the complex subject, the evolution of the baroque and rococo art that adorns these rifles.
The production of chevron beads and other types was a closely guarded secret. The Venetians went to great lengths to protect their production secrets, going so far as to make it illegal for glass workers to leave Venice.
Writing in the Colonial America era, was a complex technical process that required an array of materials and techniques, many of which were often difficult or expensive to acquire. Some of the personal writing tools used in colonial America included quill pens, ink, journals, paper, stoneware inkwells, sealing wax (the idea of separate envelopes did not exist) and portable writing desks that could be placed on another table top or in the lap. Formal writing instruction was deliberately limited to certain elite classes of the time of both sexes and men of business and trade.
Note the distinction made here of "18th & 19th Century American Historical Reenactments". There are persons interested in virtually all historical eras of most countries who participate in WWI and WWII reenactments, Viking, Roman, Napoleonic Wars (i.e., Waterloo), etc. In this article, we'll stick to the early American eras as those are the ones whose participants that Crazy Crow Trading Post supplies.
