The Jedediah Smith Society

08/28/2026

Here’s an update on the Society’s 2026 Rendezvous, October 13-16 in Needles CA, celebrating the 200th anniversary of Jed’s arrival in California via an arduous overland route.

The new news is that Clint Gilchrist, Executive Director of the Museum of the Mountain Man in Pinedale, Wyoming, is going be the keynote speaker at dinner on Wednesday, October 14th. Clint is a fine historian and cartographer who has done an outstanding job at the Museum of the Mountain Man for many years.

Clint will join a great lineup of speakers at this Rendezvous including Society President Rich Cimino, local resident and historian Lance Holter who will lead tours of Jed’s path along the Old Mohave Trail, and past Society President Milton Von Damm.

Please take a look at the flyer below for a detailed Agenda, and the form for your registration; and to request additional information or answer any questions you may have about this Rendezvous.

If you are a Society member watch your mailbox for the latest issue of Castor Canadensis, which has an excellent article by Lance Holter on the historic significance of Jed’s journey to California.

The 2026 Rendezvous will be a great learning opportunity for everyone, a chance to closely follow Jed’s route across the Mohave, a time to meet old friends and make new ones who share your interest in the Rocky Mountain Fur Trade Era.

08/11/2026

07/01/2026

Welcome to the Celebration of the Bicentennial of Jedediah Smith’s entry into Alta California, 1826–2026. This rendezvous takes place

October 13–15, 2026. Mark your calendars.

The Jedediah Smith Society, true to its mission, is holding a Bicentennial Rendezvous at the Alta-California point of entry, the Fort Mojave Reservation, at the AVI Resort along the Colorado River, CA. The Society has a special room rate for attendees, a van tour of the historical springs we will visit, speakers addressing the Southwest Expedition, a professional video of the historical Mojave Road, and a Society will host buffet dinner.
Early registration helps with the Society’s planning. Please respond using the attached registration form. Confirmation can come later. There is room for additional speakers to join; we will have audiovisual capabilities for Power Point presentations.
The presentations, maps, and past Castor Southwest Expeditions articles will be made into a commemorative Bicentennial Book.
The book will be available to all attendees and presenters, as well as to historical museums and the University of the Pacific Special Collection Archives.

Mail your registration via U.S. Mail to;

JSS c/o Rich Cimino, President JSS,

60 Elizabeth Circle, Larkspur, CA 94904-3032.

Or email your registration [email protected].

With Appreciation
Rich Cimino
President Jedediah Smith Society

06/30/2026

Ms. Phillips,
That is new news to me. I’ll ask around & get back to you if I can find out anything about the river you mention.
Jim Smith

06/13/2026