TA Ranch Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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TA Ranch Historic District
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Barn at the TA Ranch
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 Location in Wyoming
Location in the United States
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| Location | Johnson County, Wyoming, USA |
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| Nearest city | Buffalo, Wyoming |
| Built | 1892 |
| NRHP reference No. | 93000198 |
| Added to NRHP | March 26, 1993 |
The TA Ranch is a historic place in Johnson County, Wyoming. It was the main location for a big conflict called the Johnson County War in 1892. The TA Ranch started in 1882 and was one of the first ranches in the area. It's special because it's the only place from that war that still looks much like it did back then. You can even see the old trenches and bullet marks on the buildings! The ranch also shows how cattle farming grew in Wyoming.
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Exploring the TA Ranch
The ranch is located near a stream called Crazy Woman Creek, south of Buffalo, Wyoming. The beautiful Bighorn Mountains are to the west. The TA Ranch is important because it was the scene of a three-day battle during the Johnson County War. It's also a great example of how a ranch used to operate.
Buildings at the Ranch
Many buildings at the TA Ranch are still standing. They show what ranch life was like long ago.
- Barn: This large building was built in 1882 and made bigger in 1904. It was the main spot for the shootout in 1892. You can still see holes cut in the walls that were used as gunports during the battle.
- Ranch House: Built in 1892, this house is made of logs. It has a unique design with no inside hallway. Instead, each main room has its own door to the outside. The house also has bullet scars from the gunfight.
- Root Cellar: A large underground room built in 1882. It was used to store food like vegetables and fruits, keeping them cool all year.
- Cook House: This L-shaped log building was added in 1904. It was where meals were prepared for everyone working on the ranch.
- Milk Barn: Built in 1915, this log barn was used for milking cows.
- Meat House: Also built in 1915, this small log building was where meat was stored and prepared.
- Hog House: This log building from 1915 was divided into pens for hogs and a room for processing pork.
- Cattle Shed: This open-sided shed was built in 1915. It provided shelter for the cattle.
Other buildings include a granary (for storing grain), a garage, outhouses, and a hen house.
The Battle Trenches
During the 1892 siege, both sides built special bunkers or trenches. The hired gunmen dug trenches on a high spot west of the barn. This gave them a good view of the area. The local ranchers and settlers who surrounded them also built their own trenches around the ranch. At least ten trenches were built, and three of them can still be seen today.
The Ranch's Story
The TA Ranch was started in 1882 by Dr. William Harris. He bought the cattle and brand from Tom Alsop. Dr. Harris moved the cattle to Johnson County to set up the TA Ranch, but he stayed in Laramie to work as a doctor. He hired Charles Ford to manage the ranch. Dr. Harris was a "big rancher" and supported the powerful Wyoming Stockmen's Association.
The Johnson County War
In 1892, a group of hired gunmen, paid by the big cattle owners, came to Johnson County. They wanted to find people they called "rustlers" (cattle thieves). However, many smaller ranchers and settlers in northern Wyoming did not like these gunmen. A large group of locals gathered to stop them. The gunmen, often called "invaders," retreated to the TA Ranch and made it stronger for defense. Soon, about 50 invaders were surrounded by almost 400 local people. The battle lasted three days. On the third day, soldiers from Fort McKinney arrived and rescued the invaders.
Life After the War
In 1904, Dr. Harris traded the ranch to J.P. Gammon. Gammon used the TA Ranch to raise large Percheron horses, which are strong draft horses. In the 1920s, Gammon started raising Hereford cattle and also hogs. The ranch changed owners several times after that.
In 1991, the ranch was bought and restored by private owners. Today, the TA Ranch is still a working cattle ranch. It's also a guest ranch and a restaurant. Visitors are welcome to see the barn and the property for free.
Images for kids
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Entrance to TA Ranch on Wyoming Highway 196
- Photographs of the TA Ranch at the National Park Service's NRHP database
