Near Sinclair in Carbon County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)
Sheepherder's Community
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 9, 2015
1. Sheepherder's Community Marker
Inscription.
Sheepherder's Community. . Sheep were introduced to Wyoming in the 1850's near Fort Bridger, about 180 miles west of Fort Steele. By 1880 the number had grown to over 350,000 head ranging primarily along the route of the Union Pacific Railroad. The Cosgriff Brothers owned one of the largest sheep ranching operations in Wyoming at that time, and they established herds in the Fort Steele area in 1881. After the fort was decommissioned they acquired many of the buildings and in 1903 constructed one of the largest sheep shearing plants in Wyoming. In 1905 over 800,000 pounds of wool was shipped to Boston, the single largest shipment of wool ever sent out of Wyoming. , L.E. Vivian, owner of the Leo Sheep Company, purchased most of the Cosgriff land holdings including the land at Fort Fred Steele in 1915. The house, lean-to, and shed in this area are the remains of a sheepherders' community.
Sheep were introduced to Wyoming in the 1850's near Fort Bridger, about 180 miles west of Fort Steele. By 1880 the number had grown to over 350,000 head ranging primarily along the route of the Union Pacific Railroad. The Cosgriff Brothers owned one of the largest sheep ranching operations in Wyoming at that time, and they established herds in the Fort Steele area in 1881. After the fort was decommissioned they acquired many of the buildings and in 1903 constructed one of the largest sheep shearing plants in Wyoming. In 1905 over 800,000 pounds of wool was shipped to Boston, the single largest shipment of wool ever sent out of Wyoming.
L.E. Vivian, owner of the Leo Sheep Company, purchased most of the Cosgriff land holdings including the land at Fort Fred Steele in 1915. The house, lean-to, and shed in this area are the remains of a sheepherders' community.
Location. 41° 46.562′ N, 106° 56.794′ W. Marker is near Sinclair, Wyoming, in Carbon County. Marker is on County Route 347 near Interstate 80, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sinclair WY 82334, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. This marker, among a grouping of a four markers, is located at Fort Fred Steele State Historic Site. The markers are on County Road 347, north of the Interstate 80 Exit 228 and just south of the railroad tracks.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 9, 2015
2. Sheepherder's Community Marker
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 9, 2015
3. Bed ground, shipping time approaches
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 9, 2015
4. Grazing as camp moves
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 9, 2015
5. High Country Summer Pasture
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 9, 2015
6. Heading for winter range
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 25, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 385 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 25, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.