National Register of Historic Places listings in Sublette County, Wyoming facts for kids
Welcome to a special list of amazing places in Sublette County, Wyoming! These are all historic sites and areas that are so important, they've been added to the National Register of Historic Places. Think of it like a Hall of Fame for buildings, bridges, and even old campsites that tell us a lot about the past of Wyoming and the United States.
In Sublette County, there are 22 of these special places. One of them is even more important and is called a National Historic Landmark! This means it's super significant to the history of the entire country. Let's explore some of these cool spots!
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Contents
Exploring Sublette County's Historic Treasures
Sublette County is full of history, from ancient campsites to old schoolhouses and ranches. Each place on this list has a unique story to tell about the people who lived here and the events that shaped the area.
Ancient Sites and Early History
Some of the oldest places on the list show us how people lived thousands of years ago.
Calpet Rockshelter: A Glimpse into the Past
The Calpet Rockshelter is a very old site near Big Piney. It's a rock shelter where ancient people once lived or took shelter. Places like this are super important because they can hold clues about early human life, like old tools or cooking fires.
Wardell Buffalo Trap: Hunting History
The Wardell Buffalo Trap, also near Big Piney, is another fascinating ancient site. Imagine a time when people hunted huge herds of buffalo! This trap was used to help hunters catch buffalo, which was a vital part of survival for many early groups. It shows how clever and resourceful people were long ago.
Trappers Point Site: A Crossroads of Time
Near Pinedale, you'll find the Trappers Point Site. This area was a very important spot for Native Americans and later for fur trappers. It was a place where different groups met, traded, and traveled. It's like a historical highway intersection!
Fort Bonneville: A Fur Trade Post
Fort Bonneville was an early fur trading post near Pinedale. In the 1800s, fur trading was a huge business, and places like Fort Bonneville were busy centers where trappers and Native Americans exchanged goods. It played a big role in the early development of the American West.
Father DeSmet's Prairie Mass Site: A Spiritual Landmark
Near Daniel, the Father DeSmet's Prairie Mass Site marks a special religious event. Father Pierre-Jean De Smet was a famous missionary who traveled widely in the West. This site remembers a time when he held a religious service here, bringing together different cultures.
Union Pass: A Mountain Gateway
Union Pass is a high mountain pass on the Continental Divide. This pass was a natural pathway through the mountains, used by Native Americans, explorers, and pioneers for centuries. It's a reminder of the challenging journeys people made to cross the vast landscapes of the West.
Historic Buildings and Structures
Many places on the list are buildings that tell us about daily life in Sublette County.
Church of St. Hubert the Hunter and Library: A Community Hub
The Church of St. Hubert the Hunter and Library in Bondurant is a beautiful building that served as both a church and a library for the community. It shows how important faith and learning were to the early settlers in this area.
Daniel School: Learning in the Old West
The Daniel School in Daniel is a historic schoolhouse. Imagine what it was like to go to school here many years ago! These old school buildings are important because they show us how education developed in rural areas.
Log Cabin Motel: A Place to Rest
The Log Cabin Motel in Pinedale is a cool example of early motels. Built with logs, it gives us a peek into how travelers found lodging before modern hotels were common. It reminds us of the charm of old-fashioned road trips.
Ranching and Rural Life
Ranching has always been a huge part of Wyoming's history, and several places on the list highlight this.
Circle Ranch: A Working Ranch History
The Circle Ranch near Big Piney is a historic ranch that shows how ranching operations were set up and run in the past. Ranches like this were vital for raising livestock and providing food and resources.
Jensen Ranch: A Family Legacy
The Jensen Ranch near Boulder is another example of a historic ranch. These ranches often stayed in families for generations, passing down traditions and ways of life that are unique to the American West.
Redick Lodge: A Mountain Retreat
The Redick Lodge north of Pinedale was likely a place for people to stay or live in the beautiful mountain setting. It could have been a hunting lodge, a guest ranch, or a private home, showing how people lived and enjoyed the natural beauty of the area.
Sommers Ranch Headquarters Historic District: A Ranching Center
The Sommers Ranch Headquarters Historic District near Pinedale includes the main buildings of a large ranch. This district helps us understand the full scope of a historic ranching operation, from living quarters to barns and other working buildings.
Steele Homestead: Pioneer Life
The Steele Homestead near Boulder represents the life of early pioneers who settled the land. Homesteads were self-sufficient farms where families built their homes and worked the land, often facing tough conditions.
New Fork: A Historic Community
The area known as New Fork, south of Boulder, is recognized as a historic district. This means it's not just one building, but a collection of places that together tell the story of a small community and how it grew over time.
Bridges and Transportation
Bridges are important for connecting places and helping people travel.
DDZ Bridge over New Fork River: Crossing the Waters
The DDZ Bridge over New Fork River near Boulder is a historic bridge. Bridges like this were essential for allowing people and goods to cross rivers, making travel and trade much easier in the early days.
ENP Bridge over Green River: A Vital Link
The ENP Bridge over Green River near Daniel is another important historic bridge. The Green River is a major waterway, and this bridge provided a crucial link for transportation across the county.
Lander Road-New Fork River Crossing: An Old Trail
The Lander Road-New Fork River Crossing near Boulder marks a spot where the historic Lander Road crossed the New Fork River. The Lander Road was a branch of the Oregon Trail, used by pioneers heading west. This crossing was a significant point on their long journey.
Unique Cultural Sites
Some places are special because of their cultural importance.
Green River Drift Trail Traditional Cultural Property: Moving Livestock
The Green River Drift Trail Traditional Cultural Property generally follows the upper Green River. This isn't a building, but a historic trail used for moving livestock, especially cattle, to different grazing areas. It's a "traditional cultural property" because it's important to the ongoing cultural practices of the area, showing how ranching traditions continue today.
Upper Green River Rendezvous Site: A National Historic Landmark
The Upper Green River Rendezvous Site near Daniel is a very special place, so important that it's a National Historic Landmark. This site was where mountain men, fur trappers, and Native Americans gathered for annual "rendezvous" in the early 1800s. These were big events for trading, socializing, and sharing stories. It's a key spot in the history of the American fur trade and the exploration of the West.
These historic places in Sublette County, Wyoming, help us understand the rich and exciting past of the region, from ancient times to the days of pioneers and ranchers. They are like open-air museums, each with a story waiting to be discovered!
| Name on the Register | Image | Date listed | Location | City or town | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Calpet Rockshelter |
(#94000439) |
Address Restricted |
Big Piney | ||
| 2 | Church of St. Hubert the Hunter and Library |
 |
(#01001525) |
U.S. Routes 189 and 191 43°12′05″N 110°24′22″W / 43.201389°N 110.406111°W |
Bondurant | |
| 3 | Circle Ranch |
(#87000778) |
4 miles southwest of Big Piney off Wyoming Highway 350 42°31′19″N 110°10′49″W / 42.521944°N 110.180278°W |
Big Piney | ||
| 4 | Craig Cabin |
(#16000648) |
Approx. 4 miles (6.4 km) E. of Dell & Jack Creeks Coordinates missing |
Bondurant vicinity | ||
| 5 | Daniel School |
 |
(#90001387) |
U.S. Route 189 42°51′53″N 110°04′29″W / 42.864722°N 110.074722°W |
Daniel | |
| 6 | DDZ Bridge over New Fork River |
 |
(#85000437) |
County Road 136 42°45′02″N 109°43′33″W / 42.750556°N 109.725833°W |
Boulder | |
| 7 | ENP Bridge over Green River |
 |
(#85000438) |
County Road CN23-145 42°46′47″N 109°58′07″W / 42.779722°N 109.968611°W |
Daniel | |
| 8 | Father DeSmet's Prairie Mass Site |
 |
(#70000676) |
Off U.S. Route 187 42°52′10″N 110°02′29″W / 42.869444°N 110.041389°W |
Daniel | |
| 9 | Fort Bonneville |
(#70000677) |
Off U.S. Route 189 42°53′40″N 110°08′03″W / 42.894444°N 110.134167°W |
Pinedale | ||
| 10 | Green River Drift Trail Traditional Cultural Property |
(#12001224) |
Generally follows upper Green River 42°54′50″N 109°58′44″W / 42.913944°N 109.979008°W |
Cora | ||
| 11 | Jensen Ranch |
(#88000552) |
Martin Jensen County Rd. 42°38′22″N 109°31′28″W / 42.639444°N 109.524444°W |
Boulder | ||
| 12 | Lander Road-New Fork River Crossing |
(#100000525) |
1371 Paradise Rd., 23-136 (West Side of New Fork River) 42°36′42″N 109°51′23″W / 42.611578°N 109.856421°W |
Boulder vicinity | ||
| 13 | Log Cabin Motel |
 |
(#93000230) |
49 E. Magnolia St. 42°52′04″N 109°51′34″W / 42.867778°N 109.859444°W |
Pinedale | |
| 14 | New Fork |
(#87000773) |
3 miles south of Boulder on U.S. Route 187 42°42′13″N 109°42′55″W / 42.703611°N 109.715278°W |
Boulder | ||
| 15 | Redick Lodge |
(#83003364) |
North of Pinedale 42°59′34″N 109°48′08″W / 42.992778°N 109.802222°W |
Pinedale | ||
| 16 | Sommers Ranch Headquarters Historic District |
(#09000454) |
734 County Road 23-110 Coordinates missing |
Pinedale | ||
| 17 | Steele Homestead |
(#85000870) |
Wyoming Highway 191 42°45′17″N 109°37′14″W / 42.754722°N 109.620556°W |
Boulder | ||
| 18 | Trappers Point Site |
(#07000368) |
6 miles (9.7 km) west of Pinedale 42°52′47″N 109°58′57″W / 42.879722°N 109.982500°W |
Pinedale | ||
| 19 | Union Pass |
(#69000367) |
On the Continental Divide in Teton National Forest 43°28′54″N 109°52′24″W / 43.481667°N 109.873333°W |
Unknown | ||
| 20 | Upper Green River Rendezvous Site |
 |
(#66000763) |
On the Green River above and below Daniel 42°52′25″N 110°02′14″W / 42.873611°N 110.037222°W |
Daniel | |
| 21 | Wardell Buffalo Trap |
(#71000892) |
Address Restricted |
Big Piney |
