Wyoming has a rich history of ranching, farming and homesteading, and our landscape is still dotted with abandoned barns and farms throughout every county. Here are a few old-time photos of Wyoming's biggest ranches back in their heyday, and a few showing how these once majestic barns have weathered the years. Take a look and try to imagine yourself stepping back in time to these historic homesteads.
1. This big structure in the small town of Burns was the Boyd Fryes' Barn.
Big, family-owned barns like this were common in Wyoming's frontier days when homesteaders focused on cattle ranching in the great plains.
2. The TBark Ranch, south of Centennial.
This ranch sits in front of the gorgeous Snowy Range Mountains in Albany County. The flat part of the county has always been a great spot to build a ranch.
3. Ranch A Barn, Crook County
It took a large group of people to raise a barn before heavy machinery, but the handcrafted sculptures seemed to last forever.
4. The LX Bar Ranch
The historic LX Bar Ranch has been a cattle farm since 1878. Over the years, it changed hands several times, as more and more people began to desire a location right on the Powder River.
5. Pacific Springs in South Pass City
This South Pass City ranch was a large cattle ranch. See if you can spot the covered wagon and snow on the ground in this photo.
6. George Brumley's Farmhouse
The residential section of farms is often overlooked, but this gorgeous estate near Sheridan is hard to miss.
7. The Experimental Farm Horticulture Center near Cheyenne
In this photo, the home displayed was brand new construction, and it stood in stark contrast to the vast, empty land it called home.
8. Heiber Farms near Burns, Wyoming
This big, family-owned ranch was known for producing fine cattle. To this day, members of the Heiber family are involved with Wyoming agriculture, and the name is nearly synonymous with "rancher."
9. Moulton Barn, Mormon Row
You don't get any more famous than Mormon Row's Moulton Barn! This is all that remains of the estate that was built by Thomas Alma Moulton, beginning in 1912.
Wyoming's ranching history runs deep, but it's not always easy to find a place where you can experience it for yourself. Contrary to popular belief, we're not all actually cowboys here! If you do want to see what it's like to hang out on a ranch in our rural state, check out The Nation's First Dude Ranch That's Right Here In Wyoming and see just why you'll want to stay.
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