Once again, if you want to see the best of Wyoming history, you need to know how to see it. Some of this stuff does not jump out at you.
The Point of Rocks Stage Station, built in 1862 of native sandstone, is a preserved historic site in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, just off I-80 (Exit 130). It served as a critical stop on the Overland Stage Line and later the Union Pacific Railroad, surviving Indian raids and later serving as a school, home, and ranch, with the main structure still intact.
South bank of Bitter Creek, 25 miles east of Rock Springs, WY; accessed via I-80 Exit 130. It is one of the few remaining intact stage stations on the Overland Trail.
Built by Stagecoach King Ben Holladay in 1862 for his overland line, it was later used by Wells Fargo and saw use as a freight station, store, and home.
The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (since 1970) and is open year-round for self-guided viewing of the sandstone building and surrounding ruins.
If you like that one, here are a few more you can find.
YouTube VIdeo UWYO Extension Stage Coach
YouTube VIdeo UWYO Extension Stage Coach
You can see it clearly from the interstate as you speed by at 80mph. But I bet you never thought of what it was.
On the east side of Interstate 25, almost 30 minutes north of Cheyenne, Wyoming, is what is left of an old building, nestled in dying cottonwood trees, along a creek.
If you were to take the old highway (219), which parallels the interstate at this point, you would find yourself right down there with a decaying and curious structure.
A few big old trees have fallen on the building and brought entire sections of it down.
You might think it was an attractive old ranch house at first.
But then, you’ll see the marker in front of it.
Stagecoach marker Photo By Tim Mandese Focus West Photography
Stagecoach marker Photo By Tim Mandese Focus West Photography
Cheyenne, Ft. Laramie, Deadwood Trail, 1867-1887, started from Camp Carlin and Ft. D.A. Russell on the west edge of Cheyenne.
This road first ran to Ft. Laramie and in 1876 was extended to Deadwood, Dakota Territory, and the Black Hills gold fields. It also joined the Bozeman Road to Montana.
Little Bear Stage Station, 150 yards east, was open as a road ranch by Isaac Bard, May 4, 1875. It became a stage station in 1877.
What is left of the station is nestled in the trees below.
Google Maps Little Bear Station
Google Maps Little Bear Station
It turns out that this old building was a stagecoach stop and transfer station.
It might not be too far from Cheyenne by today’s highway standards. But back then this would have been a day’s ride north of the capital city.
There was plenty of room for anyone who might have needed to stay the night while waiting for the next stagecoach to take them to one of several destinations.
They might be heading up to Fort Laramie and from there up the old Bozeman Trail to Montana.
Perhaps they were taking the Deadwood trail to Deadwood, South Dakota.
The marker is near Chugwater, Wyoming, in Platte County.
It is on I-25 Service Road (Old Highway 87) (at milepost 8.2) near Kimmo Road (County Route 120), on the right when traveling north.
This marker is located on a service road on the east side of Interstate 25 about one mile north of exit 34, just north of the Little Bear Creek bridge.
CLICK HERE for a map to this location.
Explore Horses YouTube
Explore Horses YouTube
Ever find yourself complaining about potholes on Wyoming interstates?
How about we go back to the time when the stagecoach was king?
Narrow two-rut trails — I’m really not willing to call them roads — with massive rocks and holes, among other problems, made traveling by stagecoach a very uncomfortable ride.
But still better than walking.
Wyoming had many stagecoach stops in place to change coaches and horses. Or mules.
Forget what you see in Hollywood movies. Mules pulled most stage coaches because they could travel farther than a horse.
Stage coaches did not run their animals at a full gallop as you see in old West movies, unless they were fighting off bandits or Indians.
Some of Wyoming’s most famous stagecoach stops are lost to us.
We only know that they were there because history tells us so.
By the way, the next time you run for the passenger seat and yell SHOTGUN, think about where that came from.
But you drive by them as you drive across Wyoming.
You can visit many of these old sites.
A few still have buildings standing and historic markers.
Below is a list of old stations with internet links and directions.
Some of Wyoming’s more important stops were:
Arlington
Cheyenne–Black Hills Stage Route and Rawhide Buttes and Running Water Stage Stations
Duck Lake Station
Dug Springs Station
Granger Stage Station
GrangerWY_GrangerStageStation U.S. National Register of Historic Places
GrangerWY_GrangerStageStation U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Jenney Stockade
Midway Station
Pine Grove Station
Point of Rocks Stage Station
Powder River Station-Powder River Crossing
Point Of Rocks Stage Station U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Point Of Rocks Stage Station U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Rattlesnake Station
Richardson’s Overland Trail Ranch
Sage Creek Station
Stone Ranch Stage Station
1920px-Stone_Ranch_Stage_Station_2 U.S. National Register of Historic Places
1920px-Stone_Ranch_Stage_Station_2 U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Washakie Station
A Little Wyoming School House Preserved In Time
The little hamlet of Slater Wyoming has preserved on of their last two remaining buildings with all the love they feel for it.
There was once a tiny town on this spot.
Most everything is gone except the schoolhouse and the community building.
I stopped by one Saturday morning and the locals were more than happy to let us in to have a look.
Gallery Credit: Glenn Woods
Wyoming’s Yard Of Nostalgic Oddities
Someone saw the joy that these old roadside statues give people and decided to collect them.
Gallery Credit: Glenn Woods
