N.K. Boswell Ranch facts for kids
The N.K. Boswell Ranch is a very old ranch located near the Big Laramie River in Albany County, Wyoming, USA. It was started in the early 1870s. This ranch is special because it was once owned by Nathaniel K. Boswell, who was an important sheriff in Albany County when the county was huge, stretching from Colorado all the way to Montana!
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Exploring the Ranch Buildings
The ranch sits in a beautiful valley on the east side of the Medicine Bow Mountains. It includes about 1,768 acres of owned land and another 3,000 acres that are leased. The main part of the ranch has several old buildings.
Historic Ranch House
The ranch house is made of logs and is one and a half stories tall. It was built around 1873. There's also a log shed and three other log cabins, with one cabin dating back to 1894.
Other Ranch Structures
You can also find two wooden sheds and a series of log corrals for animals. Across the main road, there are more ranch buildings. These include barns, a bunkhouse where workers might have slept, a workshop, and several other sheds.
A Look at Ranch History
The N.K. Boswell Ranch began in the 1870s. It was a typical working ranch for its time. It also served as an important stop along the North Park-Laramie Plains Road, which was a travel route back then.
Nathaniel K. Boswell's Life
In 1886, Nathaniel K. Boswell bought a part of the ranch. Boswell was a very well-known person in southeastern Wyoming in the late 1800s. He came from New Hampshire and moved to Cheyenne by 1867.
Boswell's Role in Law Enforcement
By 1868, Boswell was already helping with law enforcement, even though it wasn't an official job yet. He was part of a "vigilance committee," which was a group of citizens who helped keep order and solve crimes when there wasn't much official police presence. This work led him to more formal jobs. In 1869, he became the Sheriff of Albany County.
Other Important Jobs
Besides being a sheriff, Boswell also worked as a private detective. In 1873, he became the very first warden of the Wyoming Territorial Penitentiary, which was the main prison for the Wyoming Territory. He was also friends with famous people like President Theodore Roosevelt, whom he rode with in 1903, and writer Bill Nye.
Ranch After Boswell
Nathaniel K. Boswell passed away in 1921. After his death, the ranch was sold to different owners over the years. The N.K. Boswell Ranch was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 21, 1977, recognizing its importance in history.
