Richardson's Overland Trail Ranch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Richardson's Overland Trail Ranch
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 Location in Wyoming
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| Location | 111 Hart Rd., Laramie, Wyoming |
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| Area | 4 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Architectural style | Log |
| NRHP reference No. | 92000122 |
| Added to NRHP | March 5, 1992 |
Richardson's Overland Trail Ranch is a group of seven old ranch buildings in Wyoming. It sits right where the historic Overland Trail crossed the Big Laramie River. This ranch was once a busy stop for travelers on the trail.
The main house at the ranch was built in 1862. It served as a "stage station," which was like a rest stop for stagecoaches and their passengers. At the same time, a special kind of road called a "corduroy road" was also built. This road was made from logs laid side-by-side to help wagons cross muddy or soft ground.
By 1864, people started ranching in the area around the stage station. Important early ranchers included Tom Alsop, Edward Creighton, and Charlie Hutton. After Creighton passed away in 1874, the land was split up. Alsop took the land on the west side of the river, and Hutton took the east side. The ranch on the west side later became known as the Heart or Hart Ranch. Eventually, the ranches near the river crossing became part of a bigger company called the Riverside Livestock Company.
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What Does Richardson's Ranch Look Like?
The main house at Richardson's Overland Trail Ranch is a one-story building made of logs. It has three main parts inside, also separated by log walls. It still looks much like it did when it was first built.
Other Buildings at the Ranch
Besides the main house, there are other interesting buildings:
- A polo barn built around 1910. It was later updated around 1930 using a style called "board-and-batten" construction.
- A log cabin that was moved to the ranch in the 1930s from a place called Fox Park.
- A smaller log cabin known as the "Little Cabin."
- A long shed, which was also moved to the ranch from Fox Park.
The Historic Overland Trail Today
About 300 feet (91 meters) north of the ranch buildings, you can still see a part of the original Overland Trail's corduroy road. It's a cool reminder of how people traveled long ago!
Why Is Richardson's Ranch Important?
Richardson's Overland Trail Ranch is important because it shows us what life was like during the time of the Overland Trail. It helps us understand how people traveled, ranched, and lived in Wyoming's early days.
A National Historic Place
Because of its history and how well it has been kept, Richardson's Overland Trail Ranch was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 5, 1992. This means it's recognized as a special historic site that should be protected.
