Atlantic City Mercantile facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Atlantic City Mercantile
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 Location in Wyoming
Location in the United States
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| Location | Rt. 62, Box 260, Atlantic City, Wyoming |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1893 |
| NRHP reference No. | 85000869 |
| Added to NRHP | April 25, 1985 |
The Atlantic City Mercantile is a historic building in Atlantic City, Wyoming. It used to be a general store. Today, it serves as a popular eatery and gathering place. This building is very important to Atlantic City. It shows what a commercial building looked like in the late 1800s. Back then, this area was still considered the American frontier.
History of the Mercantile Building
The Atlantic City Mercantile was built in 1893. A man named Lawrence Geissler built it. He was 38 years old and had moved from Germany. Lawrence came to Wyoming when he was 18. He started working as a cowboy.
In 1889, Lawrence married Emma Stegmiller. They got married in a nearby town called South Pass City. The next year, they opened their store in Atlantic City. The land for the store belonged to Emile Granier. He was a person who invested in mining. He owned most of the land in Atlantic City.
Lawrence Geissler bought the property from Granier in 1900. He paid five dollars for it. The store was very important to the town. It was also the local telephone office. Plus, it served as the town's post office. The store closed in 1929 after Lawrence Geissler passed away.
The building stayed closed for many years. Then, in 1964, Lyle F. Moerer reopened it. He turned it into a restaurant and gathering spot. He kept the original name and look of the old store. The Mercantile was sold again in 1971 to Terry Weirman. Later, in 1977, Robert Rice bought it. This historic spot has even been featured in famous magazines. These include National Geographic and Esquire.
What the Mercantile Looks Like
The Atlantic City Mercantile is made from adobe blocks. Adobe is a building material made from earth and organic materials. These blocks are covered with tin siding. The front of the building has a "false front." This means the front wall extends higher than the roof. It makes the building look taller and more impressive.
Inside, the walls and ceilings are also covered with tin. The building has one story. It sits on a strong stone foundation. There is also a full basement underneath. The roof is a "gabled roof." This type of roof has two sloping sides. The false front hides the roof from the street.
The most special part of the building is its front. It has large display windows. These windows let people see inside the store. There is also a fancy metal decoration above the windows. This is called a cornice.
The Mercantile is the oldest building still standing in Atlantic City. Only Hyde's Hall is older. Because of its history, the Atlantic City Mercantile was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This happened on April 25, 1985.
Images for kids
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The Atlantic City Mercantile building.
