Private John Colter (1774–May 7, 1812), a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, was the first white American to enter what is now known as Yellowstone National Park, descend into Jackson Hole and see the Grand Teton mountains, in 1808.

A fictionalized account of his escape from the Blackfeet coupled with a tale of mountain-man Hugh Glass can be found in the novel Wilderness.

John Colter is buried near New Haven, Missouri on private land.

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