The James Pierson Beckwourth Trading Post and Museum is a well preserved 1850`s log cabin, believed to be the third such cabin built by James Beckwourth as a trading post and `hotel` in the Sierra Valley. The cabin is constructed of `V` notched logs of the type used in the area where Beckwourth grew up. Just some of James Occupation's, American Explorer, Mountain Man, blacksmith, frontiersman, trapper, fur trader, wrangler, soldier, courier, wagon master, gambler, rancher, hotel keeper, trader, store keeper, rancher, author, scout
the Cabin is located at 1820 Rocky point road Portola, California just off Hwy 70

( Museum is Temporarily Closed )

James Pierson Beckwourth ( Born April 26, 1798 – October 29, 1866 or 1867 )
James was an American Mountain man, fur trader, and explorer. Beckwourth was known as " Bloody Arm " because of his skill as a Knife fighter. He was mixed-race and born into slavery in Virginia. He was freed by his white father at the age of 12 ( owner ) and worked as an blacksmith apprenticed so that he could learn a trade.

As a young man, Beckwourth moved West, first making connections with fur traders in St. Louis. As a fur trapper, he lived with the Crow Nation for years. He is credited with the discovery of Beckwourth Pass through the Sierra Nevada, between present-day Reno, Nevada, and Portola, California, during the California Gold Rush years. He improved the Beckwourth Trail, which thousands of settlers followed to central California.

Beckwourth narrated his life story to Thomas D. Bonner, The book was published in New York City and London in 1856 as The Life and Adventures of James P. Beckwourth: Mountaineer, Scout and Pioneer, and Chief of the Crow Nation of Indians.

The Harder they Fall
Into the Wild Frontier
Bloody Arm

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