Mountain Man Joe Meek: A Living History Presentation

Joseph Lafayette Meek was a pivotal figure in American frontier history, often nicknamed “The Merry Mountain Man” for his wit and humor. He joined the Rocky Mountain Fur Company in 1829 at age 18, trapping beaver alongside now-famous figures such as Kit Carson and Jim Bridger. He and his Nez Perce wife, Virginia, settled in Oregon after the fur trade declined, and Joe became the first U.S. Marshall for the Oregon Territory. His adventures were popularized in the biography The River of the West.

The buckskin-clad Joe Meek will be portrayed by his living relative, David Meek. This program is free to the public, and celebrates the 250th anniversary of our nation.