Burlington Train Depot in Clearmont, courtesy of Clearmont Historical Group
Today, trains passing through Sheridan carry only freight. Aircraft parts, wind turbine blades, but also coal, gravel, and more. But when trains first came to Wyoming, the focus wasn't on cargo, but on people. passenger. Trains have always carried goods and livestock, but in the first half of the 20th centuryyouIn the 19th century, trains were the most important means of fast and reliable transportation for travelers.
With the advent of passenger trains came stations. At the station, passengers disembark or begin their train journey. Many hosts came west by train. In 1905, Clearmont resident Ben Vannoy arrived in Sheridan by train from North Carolina. He wrote in his memoirs: "...We got to Sheridan around midnight, but stayed in the warehouse until dawn.
Before the widespread use of the telephone, the telegraph was the medium of long-distance communication, especially on the western frontier. Electricity poles and cables line the rails.
In 1851, railroad companies began to appreciate the convenience of the telegraph in coordinating the arrival and departure of trains. If a train is running on time, oncoming trains can be notified and diverted to the other side, avoiding potential train collisions and long delays. The telegraph maintained communications between dispatchers and the trains running on the rail system. Many telegraph operators in most small railway stations worked for various telegraph companies to supplement their salaries from working on the railroads.
Many warehouses housed the warehouse keeper and his family upstairs, and many were larger and better built than some other houses in small towns. Overwatch is an important task for every city. Coach houses and station masters are not only essential to the train, but also an important part of the community.
News came by wire, and since the stations had telegraph and telephone exchanges, people came to the stations to hear breaking national news, exchange local news, and receive telegrams from distant relatives and friends.
Many warehouses look the same. Built circa 1893, the Clearmont Depot bears a striking resemblance to Sheridan, Wyoming's first lumber warehouse, which is now listed on the Register of Historic Places. The reason for this is that it is cheaper to hire one architect for multiple stations than to hire a separate architect to design each station.
Sometimes, the same company may contract again and again to build a new station after it becomes operational. Warehouses are even built off-site and transported by train to the cities where they must be stored. Soon, railroad companies began designing stations as trademarks for each company.
Cheyenne Union Pacific Zug Warehouse It was once the crown jewel of the UP rail system and the company's largest facility west of Council Bluffs, Iowa. Now a museum, the station is the last of the remaining large stations of the 19th-century Union Pacific Transcontinental Railroad. This is an excellent example of Richardsonian Romanesque style.
In an article by Cheyenne Illustrated, March 1, 1888.Union Pacific recently built one of the best Union Warehouses in the West for over $100,000. It is 226 feet long and 55 feet wide and is made of rough stone with a tower 128 feet high. His own handsome masonry warehouse in Cheyenne Burlington cost about $90,000.
The warehouse was completed in 1888, timely for the city and the region. The open country culture was all but destroyed by the snowstorms of 1886 and 1887, but with the advent of the railroads, more industry and tourism filled the void.
For about 80 years, people in Wyoming have traveled mainly by train for long distances. For many years, before the advent of the automobile, excursions to and from the station were still done by horse-drawn carriage, private van and horse-drawn carriage or on horseback.
As more and more people discovered they could travel faster and more comfortably by rail, stations became more than just telegraph offices or post offices. Baggage rooms, lounges, women's rest areas, smoking rooms, ticket offices, crew quarters or facilities, unloading facilities, mail rooms, parcel rooms, and additional rooms for other work.
As in surrounding airports today, hotels have sprung up next to stations, offering dinner and lodging to weary train passengers. The Plains Hotel in Sheridan, the Cheyenne and Sheridan Inns and the Virginian Inn in Medicine Bow are all built for travelers to Wyoming.
In an article in the Sheridan Daily Enterprise dated October 23, 1909, he talks about the proposed Sheridan brick warehouse building.
The next few years: $100,000 to build a passenger rail station, not to mention an additional $30,000 for trucks and new tracks, may seem like a lot of money for a city the size of Sheridan, but that's only Burlington officials The confidence of the city expresses the extension of the urban highway.
Coming from sources like this, which include some of the brightest minds in the railroad industry today, is a rare expression of faith in the community and surrounding country. As officials in Burlington plan their construction efforts, they are doing something that many of us businessmen ignore — they are preoccupied with the future. In many cases, Sheridan often overlooks this. Views can only be seen from buildings built today, and their owners will consider themselves short-sighted in a few years.
In the Sheridan Daily Enterprise, July 25, 1911:The truck house had to be demolished...followed by the superstructure.Burlington's freight yard at Fourth Street and Broadway will be relocated to a different location to make room for the new passenger terminal.
The golden age of rail travel came to an end in the late 1960s. Passenger traffic on trains has declined as more people have begun traveling faster by air or in their own cars.
President Eisenhower instituted the Interstate Highway System, originally created for the military to transport supplies and troops, and later to become the main artery of the nation's automobile traffic. Traveling by car is more convenient and faster, you can drive directly to your destination.
Burlington suspended passenger service between Denver, Colorado, and Billings, Montana. October 1967. The last passenger train from Union, Nebraska via Sheridan to Billings, Montana began service on August 24, 1969. With no more passengers, the station becomes redundant.
Clearmont Camp was purchased and transferred to Ucross by the Ucross Foundation. According to the Ucross Foundation website, today's warehouse "...has been renovated and now has four bedrooms...two spacious author studios are located in the warehouse's basement."
The Sheridan Lumber Depot and Brick Depot still exist today in the Sheridan Railroad Historic District, which also includes the historic Sheridan Hotel and vintage locomotives.
Warehouses were once the heart of the community, but thanks to faster and easier transportation, they have become part of Wyoming's history.
(Most of the information in this article is taken from the Clearmont Historical Group book The Rails Come to Clearmont.)
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FAQs
Why is Sheridan Wyoming famous? ›
Sheridan is also home to seven Indian War battle sites. We have two national historic landmarks in Sheridan. Located right in the center of downtown you will find the 127 year old Historic Sheridan Inn, which is still a fully functional hotel. It is one of the most beautiful buildings in all of Wyoming.
What railroad line went through Cheyenne Wyoming? ›The construction of the Union Pacific Railroad across Wyoming from 1867 to 1868 opened the state to permanent settlement, and Cheyenne was incorporated in the fall of 1867.
What is the history of passenger trains? ›Passenger service can be traced back to within a few decades of railroading's first appearance on the American scene in the late 1700s. Passenger travel via train began in the 1830s in eastern markets, reaching midwestern lines in the 1860s. Union Pacific inaugurated its passenger service in July 1866.
Where did Sheridan Wyoming get its name? ›One evening in the spring of 1882 John Loucks sat on a hill above Goose Creek and envisioned a town laid out in the valley below him. He went to his cabin and sketched out the town site, giving it the name “Sheridan” in honor of the Union general he had served under.
Why do celebrities live in Wyoming? ›When you come to Jackson Hole, you'll join a club of insiders who know how to truly get away from it all. Celebrities flock to Jackson Hole because they can escape their hectic everyday routines and live more simply. The local “Ranch” lifestyle prioritizes respecting privacy, slowing down, and reconnecting with nature.
Who owns the biggest ranch in Wyoming? ›The United States Government
The largest landowner in Wyoming is the federal government, owning around 30 million acres of land.
America's first intercity railroad, the 13-mile Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, was completed in early 1830.
Is the train station in Wyoming a real place? ›The Train Station: This is the location where the Duttons and associates dump the bodies of their foes. On the show, the location is just over the Wyoming border but in filming reality it is a highway turnout on US- 93 south of Darby in Sula, Montana, at Sula Peak Road 5727.
What was the original name of Cheyenne? ›Magic City of the Plains
The town site was first surveyed by General Grenville Dodge and was named for an Indian tribe that roamed the area (originally called 'Shey' an' nah', belonging to the tribe of Alogonquian, the largest family of Indians on the North American Continent).
Broad Green station, Liverpool, England, shown in 1962, opened in 1830, is the oldest station site in the world still in use as a passenger station.
What is the most famous passenger train? ›
As the world's most celebrated train, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express carries passengers across Europe in the style of a bygone era. The memory of the glamorous carriages, sumptuous cuisine, and personal service will stay with you forever.
What is the oldest passenger train? ›On September 27, 1825, Locomotion No. 1 became the world's first steam locomotive to carry passengers on a public line, the Stockton and Darlington Railway, in North East England. Locomotion No. 1 was built by George Stephenson at his son Robert's company, the Robert Stephenson and Company.
What is the Gold Dome in Sheridan Wyoming? ›Sheridan College's Fitness Center is located inside the Bruce Hoffman Golden Dome on campus. Open and free to students, staff and faculty, the Fitness Center is staffed with student employees and features a variety of new health and wellness equipment, allowing you to pursue your fitness goals.
What is the largest ranch in Sheridan Wyoming? ›The Holy Cow Ranch encompasses 3,589.4 deeded acres along with a 320 +/- acre state lease of unparalleled wildlife habitat and agricultural production, miles of National Forest boundary, creek frontage and striking improvements set between the shimmering creeks and the pine-clad slopes of the Bighorn Mountains.
What was Wyoming originally called? ›| Wyoming | |
|---|---|
| Before statehood | Wyoming Territory |
| Admitted to the Union | July 10, 1890 (44th) |
| Capital (and largest city) | Cheyenne |
| Largest metro and urban areas | Cheyenne |
Less than a month after purchasing a beachfront Malibu home, Kanye West has listed one of his two Wyoming ranches, Daily Mail reports. The “All of the Lights” rapper and Yeezy designer is asking $11 million for the 3,800+ acre property that he purchased in 2019 his with now ex-wife, Kim Kardashian.
What billionaires live in Wyoming? ›- #5. Amy Wyss. - Net worth: $1.8 billion (#1,581 wealthiest in the world) ...
- #4. B. Wayne Hughes Jr. ...
- #3. J. Joe Ricketts & family. ...
- #2. Christy Walton. - Net worth: $10.5 billion (#166 wealthiest in the world) ...
- #1. John Mars. - Net worth: $38.3 billion (#32 wealthiest in the world)
It's no secret that a lot of celebrities either have a home in Jackson Hole, or visit often! Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Harrison Ford, Sandra Bullock, Brad Pitt, Pippa Middleton, Tiger Woods, Uma Thurman, Matthew McConaughey have all spent time here.
Who is the richest rancher in Wyoming? ›Billionaire Stan Kroenke owns 560,000 acres of land in Wyoming. This is the largest ranch in the Rocky Mountains and sits near Medicine Bow. Kroenke purchased this land in 2003. The move expanded his already impressive portfolio of properties across the country.
Does Bill Gates own a ranch in Wyoming? ›Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, who remains one of the richest people in the world, bought this historic ranch in 2009 (for $9 million). Known as the Irma Lake Lodge, the property was settled by Buffalo Bill himself, in 1902.
What is the most expensive ranch in Wyoming? ›
Wyoming has you covered. A ranch in Jackson Hole with a whopping 233 acres of land just hit the market for $35 million. That makes it the most expensive listing in the state, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
What is the shortest railroad in the US? ›Princeton Branch or Dinky, USA
Reaching up to a tiny 2.7 miles of track from Princeton Northwest Junction to Princeton University, the Princeton Branch is the shortest railway line in the Grand ol' USA.
The Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) built 1,085 miles (1,746 km) from the road's eastern terminus at the Missouri River settlements of Council Bluffs and Omaha, Nebraska, westward to Promontory Summit.
What is the oldest railroad in the US still operating? ›The Strasburg Rail Road is the oldest operating railroad in the United States. Founded in 1832, it is known as a short line and is only seven kilometers long. Short lines connected passengers and goods to a main line that traveled to bigger cities.
Why is there no Amtrak in Wyoming? ›Wyoming lost its passenger train service in 1983 when Amtrak officials decided that the scenery of the southern half of the state, traversed by wagon trains before the first transcontinental railroad snaked its way across Wyoming more than a century ago, was too barren.
Where did Yellowstone film the train station? ›While not on the Montana-Wyoming border, the real-world "train station" – deemed the "Zone of Death" – exists within the Idaho section of Yellowstone National Park.
What ranch is Yellowstone filmed at? ›The Dutton family's gorgeous log cabin is actually a 5,000-square foot mansion located on Chief Joseph Ranch near Darby, Montana. Just like on TV, it' a real working cattle ranch and family home—and it's totally stunning, of course. "On the ranch, we're actually filming where it's actually set.
What tribes were enemies of the Cheyenne? ›The main group of Cheyenne, the Tsêhéstáno, was once composed of ten bands that spread across the Great Plains from southern Colorado to the Black Hills in South Dakota. They fought their historic enemies, the Crow and later (1856–79) the United States Army.
What do the Cheyenne people call themselves? ›The tribe call themselves "Tsis tsis'tas" (Tse-TSES-tas) which means "the beautiful people". The Cheyenne Nation is comprised of ten bands, spread all over the Great Plains, from southern Colorado to the Black Hills in South Dakota.
What language did Cheyenne speak Native American? ›Cheyenne is spoken in southeastern Montana and western Oklahoma. The Cheyenne language is a member of the Plains Algonquian branch of the Algic language family. Closely related languages include Arapaho and Blackfoot. More distantly related languages include Potawatomi, Myaamia, Ottawa and Shawnee.
What is the largest train station in the world? ›
Grand Central Terminal is spread over 49 acres, has 44 platforms and 67 tracks on two levels. It is the world's largest train station by number of platforms and area occupied.
Where is the largest railway station in the world? ›Hubli Railway Station in Karnataka is the world's longest railway station. Also known as Shree Siddharoodha Swamiji – Hubballi Junction, it is operated by the South Western Railways under the Hubli division. Platform 1 of the Hubbali station, with a length of 1,505 metres, is the longest railway platform in the world.
Which is the longest railway station in the world? ›(Image credit: www.guinnessworldrecords.com) The Hubballi railway station in Karnataka has entered the Guinness Book of World Records for having the longest railway platform in the world. The 1,507 metre long platform was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.
What is the most beautiful train ever? ›1. The Bernina Express, Switzerland. If you're looking for the most beautiful train ride on earth, you know that Switzerland has to be number one on this list.
What is the most famous train station in the US? ›Grand Central Terminal, New York City
At over a century old, the grande dame of train stations sees 267,000 people crisscross through its main concourse—passing the iconic information booth and four-faced clock—each day during a normal year.
Fairy Queen (locomotive)
What were old trains called? ›Railways existed as early as 1550, in Germany. These pathways of wooden rails called “wagonways” were the beginning of modern rail transport, making it easier for horse-drawn wagons or carts to move along dirt roads.
What city has the oldest train system? ›The London Underground is the oldest metro system in the world, with services operating from 1890. Credit: tompagenet / WikiCommons.
Do old trains still exist? ›The last meter-gauge and narrow-gauge steam locomotives in regular service were retired in 2000. After being withdrawn from service, most steam locomotives were scrapped, though some have been preserved in various railway museums. The only steam locomotives remaining in regular service are on India's heritage lines.
What is the history of Sheridan Wyoming? ›It was founded in 1882 and named for General Philip H. Sheridan, Union cavalry leader during the American Civil War. Not until a series of wars subdued the Cheyenne, Sioux, and Crow was the area well settled. The arrival of the railroad (1892) and the discovery of coal stimulated its growth.
Is the gold dome real gold? ›
In just a few years, the dome began to leak in rain and snow, so the company of Paul Revere was hired to cover the dome with copper to make it watertight. Later, in 1872, the dome was gilded with real gold leaf, and, as you know, still glows with gold today. At the very top of the dome is a sculpture carved of wood.
Is the top of the Dome of the Rock Real gold? ›The original gold dome also disappeared long ago, and the dome you see today is covered with 5000 gold plates donated by the late King Hussein of Jordan. The 80kg of gold cost the king US$8.2 million – he sold one of his homes in London to pay for it.
Who owned the 6666 Ranch before Sheridan? ›6666 Ranch, or Four Sixes Ranch, was founded by Samuel "Burk" Burnett back in 1870 when he purchased 100 heads of cattle and gave them the now-famous 6666 brand. Burnett went on to become one of the most influential and successful cattlemen in Texas history.
What is the largest privately owned ranch in Wyoming? ›At 560,000 acres, Q Creek Ranch is the largest contiguous ranch in the Rocky Mountains. Q Creek Ranch's vast private land holdings offer guests an unparalleled opportunity to pursue wild game and chase trophy trout.
What actor has a ranch in Wyoming? ›It's hard to imagine Hollywood without actor Harrison Ford, one of the greatest action heroes of his generation.
What is the oldest town in Wyoming? ›Hartville is the oldest incorporated town in Wyoming. This small town is home to 48 people, but the history is vast. It was settled in the 1870's and established in 1884, it can be found in Eureka Canyon.
What did Indians call Wyoming? ›The name "Wyoming" comes from a Algonquian Indian word. The name of our state is an English corruption of the Lenape word Chwewamink, which means "by the big river flat." But the Lenape never lived in what we now call Wyoming.
Who lived in Wyoming first? ›The historic Indians in Wyoming were nomadic tribes known as the Plains Indians. They were the Arapaho, Arikara, Bannock, Blackfeet, Cheyenne, Crow, Gros Ventre, Kiowa, Nez Perce, Sheep Eater, Sioux, Shoshone and Ute tribes.
What is an interesting fact about Sheridan Wyoming? ›Famous Western showman “Buffalo Bill” Cody used to own a piece of the Sheridan Inn. The CEO of Best Buy, Brad Anderson, is a Sheridan native. The town is named after General Philip H. Sheridan, a Union Army General during the American Civil War.
What is Wyoming most famous for? ›Wyoming is known for its rich aboriginal folklore, beautiful nature, and stunning National Parks including Yellowstone and Grand Teton. The state's population density is among the lowest in the nation. Wyoming is famous for bull riding, cowboy culture, and the home to several of the world's most magnificent rangelands.
What is the most famous thing about Wyoming? ›
Wyoming is a treasure trove of natural wonders and diverse landscapes. The state is most famous for its national parks – Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Wild West history and culture are also integral parts of the state's identity.
What is the national food of Wyoming? ›While some might argue in favor of another food, it came as no surprise that buffalo jerky was selected to represent Wyoming.
What are 5 products from Wyoming? ›Wyoming's most valuable export grain crop is wheat; other important crops include oats, barley, and corn (maize). Wyoming is also a major producer of sugar beets, dry beans (including great northern and pinto beans), and potatoes.
What is the most visited place in Wyoming? ›1: Yellowstone National Park
Now attracting millions of visitors every year, it's one of the most visited Wyoming attractions.
Wyoming's Equality Heritage
In 1869, Wyoming's territorial legislature became the first government in the world to grant "female suffrage" by enacting a bill granting Wyoming women the right to vote.
The original gold dome also disappeared long ago, and the dome you see today is covered with 5000 gold plates donated by the late King Hussein of Jordan. The 80kg of gold cost the king US$8.2 million – he sold one of his homes in London to pay for it.