122nd Annual Pioneer Days 2016 Page 7

Origin of Lander
Excerpted from the 1936 Pageant of
the Old West Parade program
In the winter of 1856-57, Congress made an appropriation for
the building of a road from Missouri through South Pass to California.
Later in the fall of 1857, the
expedition, accompanied by a
large military escort, reached
South Pass. Because the winter
was so severe at South Pass, the
government guide recommended
the Wind River Valley, or Warm
Valley as the American Indians
called it, as a desirable wintering
place.
The soldiers and road builders,
therefore, turned north and winter
quarters were selected on the
Popo Agie River at a point 2 miles
northeast of where Lander now
stands, proclaimed by the party as
one of the most ideally located
and beautiful campsites in the
west.
They remained until spring,

when Col. F. W. Lander arrived

and took command of the expedition.
Lander was greatly pleased
with the campsite and surrounding country, and so pronounced in
his praise of the beautiful valley it
seemed most natural the town,
which was afterward located by
the Hon. B. F. Lowe, was named
after Lander.
Before leaving camp, Lander
negotiated a treaty with the
Shoshone Tribe for a right-of-way
through the country claimed by
them, extending from the Sweetwater to Fort Hall, Idaho. The
American Indians were paid on
the spot with horses, firearms,
ammunition, blankets and many
other articles of value, highly
prized by Chief Washakie and the
other chief men of the tribe.
The Shoshones always remembered Lander kindly, and at his
death, were greatly grieved.
Origin continued on page 17

2015 Pageant of the Old West winners

Floats
1. Shoshone Rose
Casino
2. Fabel Wedding
3. Church of Christ
Individual
1. Norma Slack
Haskell, Calamity
Jane
2. Bruce Gresly
Memorial
3. Dick Lehman
Horse Drawn
1. Wyoming State
Fair
2. Horse-drawn
team
Color Guard
1. Veterans of
Foreign Wars
American Legion
2. Fremont County
Fair and Rodeo
Non-Mounted
Group

1. Mormon Handcart Historical Sites

Bands
1. Sheridan Drum and
Bugle Corps
2. Lander Valley
Marching Band
4. Lander Valley
Pipes
Native American
Entry
1. Morning Star
Weed Indian Relay
2. Northern Arapaho MSPI
3. Star Weed Truck
Class Car
1. Rod Harmalink
Antique Car
1. Dick Ellis
2. Dick Ellis
3. Jay Taylor
Classic Truck
1. Ameri-Tech

Antique Truck
1. Dick Ellis
2. Casey Barnum
3. Dick Ellis
Historical
1. Fremont Count
Pioneer Association
2. Lander Shrine
Club
3. Wyoming
Catholic College
Classic Farm
1. Lander
Ambassadors
2. Faith Lutheran
Church
3. Wind River Fly
Wheelers
Antique Farm
1. Wind River Fly
Wheelers
2. Lander Old
Timers Rodeo
Association