Craig Cabin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Craig Cabin
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 Location in Wyoming
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Bondurant, Wyoming |
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| NRHP reference No. | 16000648 |
| Added to NRHP | September 19, 2016 |
The Craig Cabin is a historic log cabin located near Bondurant, Wyoming. It was built over 120 years ago, around 1898 to 1900. This cabin has a rich history, from being a trapper's home to a gold prospector's base, and later a lodge for hunters. Today, it is recognized as an important historical site.
Contents
The Craig Cabin: A Historic Log Home
Jack Craig and the Search for Gold
The Craig Cabin was first built as a trapper's cabin. Around 1902, a man named Jack Craig began living there. He was a gold prospector, meaning he searched for gold in the area. The cabin is located in the Gros Ventre Range, a mountain range in Wyoming.
Jack Craig spent his summers at the cabin, looking for gold. In the winter, he would return to his home in Salt Lake City. He even advertised his gold search on the radio and sold parts of his mining operation to other people. However, there was no real proof that he found much gold. Geological studies showed that any gold in the area likely came from higher up the mountains, carried down by streams. Craig also had some disagreements with local ranchers about water use.
What is Placer Mining?
The site of the Craig Cabin includes the cabin itself and some tools Jack Craig used for mining. He used a sluice box and ditches to move water. This method is called placer mining.
How Placer Mining Works
Placer mining is a way to find gold or other valuable minerals that have been washed down from mountains by water. Miners use water to separate heavier gold from lighter sand and gravel. A sluice box is a long, narrow channel with ripples or traps inside. Water is run through the box, carrying the dirt and gravel. The heavier gold sinks and gets caught in the traps, while the lighter materials wash away.
The Cabin's Design
The main Craig Cabin is a log cabin with one and a half stories. It measures about 29.5 feet (9 meters) long and 21.5 feet (6.5 meters) wide. Inside, there are two rooms on the ground floor and a loft area above. Near the main cabin, there is also a smaller, one-story log shed. This shed was built around the same time as the cabin.
A Home Through the Years
After Jack Craig, the cabin continued to be used. From 1940, a man named Arthur Bowlsby used it as a lodge. He hosted hunters who came to the area. Starting in 1971, different businesses used the cabin for outfitting. Outfitting businesses provide equipment and guides for outdoor activities like hunting. The Craig Cabin is still used for this purpose today.
Becoming a Historic Place
Because of its long history and connection to early settlement and mining in Wyoming, the Craig Cabin was recognized as an important historical site. It was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 19, 2016. This listing helps protect the cabin and its history for future generations.
