Tom Sun Ranch facts for kids
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Tom Sun Ranch
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Overview of the ranch
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| Location | Natrona County, Wyoming, USA |
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| Nearest city | Alcova, Wyoming |
| Area | 4,160 acres (16.8 km2) |
| Built | 1872 |
| Built by | Tom Sun |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000753 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 19, 1960 |
The Tom Sun Ranch, also known as Sun Ranch, is a special historical place in Wyoming. It's located about 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Independence Rock on Wyoming Highway 220. This ranch sits right along the famous Oregon Trail and Mormon Trail. These were important paths for pioneers traveling west long ago.
Contents
A Look Back at Tom Sun Ranch
Who Was Tom Sun?
The ranch was built by a man named Tom Sun. He was a French-Canadian frontiersman. This means he was one of the first people to explore and settle new lands. Later, he became a pioneer cattleman. He raised cattle on a large scale.
Life on a Cattle Ranch
During the 1870s and 1880s, the Tom Sun Ranch was a typical ranch. It was a medium-sized operation in the cattle country. Many ranches like it helped shape the American West. In 1882, a newspaper called The Cheyenne Daily Leader wrote about it. They said if someone from the East wanted to know what a ranch was like, they should look at Tom Sun's.
A National Treasure
The Tom Sun Ranch is very important to history. On December 19, 1960, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a place recognized for its special historical value. At that time, it was one of the best-preserved ranches from the cattle ranching period. The ranch covered a huge area of about 4,160 acres (1,680 ha).
Changes and Care for the Ranch
New Owners and New Purpose
The Tom Sun Ranch stayed in the Sun family for four generations. But in 1996, it was sold. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) bought the property. Since then, some of the ranch buildings have been changed. They now serve as a visitor center for nearby Martin's Cove. Martin's Cove is another important Mormon historical site.
Keeping History Alive
The buildings at the ranch have been made strong and repaired. This helps protect them for the future. However, some changes have been made to the land around the buildings. Things like parking lots and new landscaping were added. These changes are not exactly how the ranch looked long ago. But, large parts of the landmark area still look very much like they did in the past. This is especially true for the sections owned by the public.
