Denis Julien (trapper)
Encyclopedia
Denis Julien was an American fur trapper of French Huguenot
origin who was active in the southwestern United States in the 1830s and 1840s, one of the few Europeans in the area at the time. He is principally known for his habit of leaving carved inscriptions in rock faces in Utah and Colorado on his travels, with at least eight such locations attributed to him, four of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
Julien apparently lived in St. Louis
in the 1790s. A child was born in 1793 to Julien and his native American wife Catherine in 1793, and three children were christened and one was buried between 1798 and 1809. Julien was mentioned in an 1808 letter by then-governor Meriwether Lewis
to Secretary of War Henry Dearborn
as an "old and rispected [sic] trader among the Ioways." Julien and his brother were in the military in northern Louisiana in 1809. Denis witnessed the 1815 Iowa Treaty
and traded on the upper Missouri River
in 1816 and 1817. In this time he was connected to the Chouteau
and Robidoux families of St. Louis.
In 1827 Julien made his first trip to the far West with Francisco Robidoux. They passed through Taos
and went to "the land of the Utes," in the general area of Southern Utah and Colorado. From that time Julien is known only by his series of rock inscriptions. He was the first to leave a dateable mark in the land in the area. He left marks in 1831, 1836 and 1844, apparently traveling up and down the Colorado
and Green
rivers in a boat, apparently assisted by sail, since one of his inscriptions depicts a boat with a mast.
All listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
origin who was active in the southwestern United States in the 1830s and 1840s, one of the few Europeans in the area at the time. He is principally known for his habit of leaving carved inscriptions in rock faces in Utah and Colorado on his travels, with at least eight such locations attributed to him, four of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Julien apparently lived in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
in the 1790s. A child was born in 1793 to Julien and his native American wife Catherine in 1793, and three children were christened and one was buried between 1798 and 1809. Julien was mentioned in an 1808 letter by then-governor Meriwether Lewis
Meriwether Lewis
Meriwether Lewis was an American explorer, soldier, and public administrator, best known for his role as the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition also known as the Corps of Discovery, with William Clark...
to Secretary of War Henry Dearborn
Henry Dearborn
Henry Dearborn was an American physician, a statesman and a veteran of both the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Born to Simon Dearborn and Sarah Marston in North Hampton, New Hampshire, he spent much of his youth in Epping, where he attended public schools...
as an "old and rispected [sic] trader among the Ioways." Julien and his brother were in the military in northern Louisiana in 1809. Denis witnessed the 1815 Iowa Treaty
Treaties of Portage des Sioux
The Treaties of Portage des Sioux were a series of treaties at Portage des Sioux, Missouri in 1815 that officially were supposed to mark the end of conflicts between the United States and Native Americans at the conclusion of the War of 1812....
and traded on the upper Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
in 1816 and 1817. In this time he was connected to the Chouteau
Chouteau
Chouteau was the name of a highly successful French fur-trading family based in St. Louis, Missouri, members of which established posts in the Midwest and Western United States...
and Robidoux families of St. Louis.
In 1827 Julien made his first trip to the far West with Francisco Robidoux. They passed through Taos
Taos
Taos can meanPlaces*Taos Pueblo, a Native American pueblo, Tua-tah*Taos dialect, a dialect of the Tiwa language*Taos County, New Mexico, United States*Taos, New Mexico, a city, the county seat of Taos County, New Mexico...
and went to "the land of the Utes," in the general area of Southern Utah and Colorado. From that time Julien is known only by his series of rock inscriptions. He was the first to leave a dateable mark in the land in the area. He left marks in 1831, 1836 and 1844, apparently traveling up and down the Colorado
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
and Green
Green River (Utah)
The Green River, located in the western United States, is the chief tributary of the Colorado River. The watershed of the river, known as the Green River Basin, covers parts of Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado. The Green River is long, beginning in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming and flowing...
rivers in a boat, apparently assisted by sail, since one of his inscriptions depicts a boat with a mast.
See also
- Denis Julien Inscription (Moffat County, Colorado)Denis Julien Inscription (Moffat County, Colorado)The Denis Julien Inscription was left on a rock face in 1838 along the Green River in Moffat County, Colorado by Denis Julien, a French-American trapper who was one of the few Europeans in the area in the 1830s. Julien made a practice of leaving his mark on locations along the Green and Colorado...
, Dinosaur National Monument - Denis Julien Inscription (Grand County, Utah)Denis Julien Inscription (Grand County, Utah)The Denis Julien Inscription is an incised carving on a rock face in a side canyon of the Green River in Canyonlands National Park in Utah. The site is about to the east of the Green River in Hellroaring Canyon, at the top of a talus slope. The inscription was left by trapper Denis Julien in 1836,...
, Canyonlands National Park - Denis Julien Inscription (San Juan County, Utah)Denis Julien Inscription (San Juan County, Utah)The Denis Julien Inscription is a rock-carved graffito purportedly left by French- American trapper Denis Julien in southern Utah when he was traveling in the area in the late 1830 or early 1840s, one of the first Europeans to enter the area. The inscription is within the boundaries of Canyonlands...
, Canyonlands National Park - Julien Inscription PanelJulien Inscription PanelThe Julien Inscription Panel is a rock face in Arches National Park that has been marked by passers-by who have incised their names into the desert varnish on the sandstone rock of the vertical rock face. Most of the signatures have been added since 1900...
, Arches National Park
All listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
External links
- Julien Inscription Panel at Canyonlands National Park