* Jim Bridger: Bridger was a mountain man and explorer who spent much of his life in the Rocky Mountains. He was the first European to cross the South Pass, a low mountain pass that allowed settlers to travel from the Midwest to the Oregon Territory. Bridger also explored the Yellowstone region and was one of the first white men to see the Grand Tetons.
* William Ashley: Ashley was a fur trader and explorer who founded the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. Ashley's company sent trappers into the Rocky Mountains, including Jedediah Smith, William Sublette, and Thomas Fitzpatrick. These men explored much of the region and helped to open it up for settlement.
* Jedediah Smith: Smith was a trapper and explorer who worked for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. He explored the Snake River Valley and the Great Basin, becoming the first European to see many of the region's landmarks, including the Great Salt Lake and the Sierra Nevada mountains.
* William Sublette: Sublette was a fur trader and explorer who worked with Ashley and Smith. He helped to establish the Oregon Trail, a major route for settlers traveling to the West. Sublette also explored the Yellowstone region and was one of the first white men to see the Grand Tetons.