Manuel Lisa was a merchant and fur trader. In 1807 Lisa led the first trading expedition to the upper Missouri River in what is now Montana in search of new trading and fur-trapping opportunities. An ambitious risk-taker, Lisa told William Clark, “I go a great distance, while some are considering whether they will start today or tomorrow.” He became an important figure in the fur trade but died without achieving the financial success he sought.
Born on September 8, 1772, Manuel Lisa encountered some very prominent figures in our state's rugged history. Use your recording sheet to organize your thought as you read about Manuel Lisa.
What Do You Wonder?Why did/do people trap small animals? What types of items would trappers trade for? What would people like Manuel Lisa need to know about Native Americans? | What Do You Notice?How do you know Manuel Lisa was a confident man? Why did fur trappers have to go farther and farther west to find more furs? What famous explorers are mentioned in the reading? |
While We're On the Topic
| Learn more about tracking animals: |  |
American Indians
The natives in North America also killed and used animals. Watch the video here to get an idea for how all the parts of the buffalo (bison) was used for the good of the tribe. The image on the left can also be enlarged with a click to show the uses of the buffalo's many parts.
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You, too, may get in on the action. The teacher has prepared a buffalo for your perusal. Your task is to reach into the "carcass". Take out an item, describe it (in writing), and tell us ways it could be used.
