Name: Signal Mountain

County: Teton

Authority Name: 

GNIS Entry

Longitude:  1103402W

Latitude: 435056N

Legal Description:

Elevation: 7723/2354

(ft/m)

Feature Type: Summit

Origin of Name: 

The story of Signal Mountain comes about from an old tale. John D. Sargent was one of the early pioneers, settling on the east shore of Jackson Lake in 1887. For a time he had as a partner a man named Robert R. Hamilton, said to be a descendant of the great Alexander Hamilton. One day Hamilton went antelope hunting in the “Pot Hole” country south of Jackson Lake. When he failed to return within a reasonable time, Sargent organized a search party. After seven days Hamilton’s body was found where he had drowned in the Snake River. His horse was found with an antelope tied to the saddle. There was considerable talk of foul play but nothing came of it. Hamilton’s body was buried on the shore of Jackson Lake for a time but was later taken east by his relatives. While the search was going on it was agreed by the searchers that if Hamilton was found, a signal fire would be lit at the summit of this mountain as a message to the others. From this circumstance, the mountain came to be called “Signal Mountain.”