Buffalo in Johnson County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)

Johnson County Courthouse

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 16, 2015

1. Johnson County Courthouse Marker

Inscription. Buffalo, Wyoming, the Johnson County seat, chartered March 3, 1884, started as a trading center for Fort McKinney, located two miles west of town, which was founded July 18, 1887 and is now the Veterans' Home of Wyoming.
The court house was built in 1884 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Main Street started out as a game trail across Clear Creek. The Bozeman Trail used this route to the Montana gold fields and thus precipitated the bloody Indian Wars of the 1860's around Fort Phil Kearny 17 miles north of Buffalo.
The War Memorial originally on this site was replaced by the adjacent black granite Veterans Memorial, dedicated 11 November, 1987.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers • Wars, US Indian.

Location. 44° 20.883′ N, 106° 41.954′ W. Marker is in Buffalo, Wyoming, in Johnson County. Marker is at the intersection of North Main Street (Business Interstate 25) and Fort Street, on the right when traveling south on North Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 76 North Main Street, Buffalo WY 82834, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Johnson County War Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Nate Champion's Diary

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Homesteading and the Jenkins Family (within shouting distance of this marker); Nate Champion's Last Run (within shouting distance of this marker); Powder River Country (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Occidental Hotel (about 400 feet away); Historic Buffalo, Wyoming (about 500 feet away); Heritage Mall (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Buffalo.

Johnson County Courthouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 16, 2015

2. Johnson County Courthouse

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 16, 2015

3. Johnson County Courthouse Marker

Photographed By Volker Schmidt, May 15, 2019

4. Johnson County Courthouse

Old Fire Bell image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 16, 2015

5. Old Fire Bell

From 1901 to 1978 this bell hung above the Old City Hall and was rung to summon fire fighters and law enforcement personnel. It is displayed here as a reminder of earlier and simpler times.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 9, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 12, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 379 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 12, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 4. submitted on June 2, 2019, by Volker Schmidt of Albstadt, Germany. 5. submitted on December 12, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Mid-distance view of the marker and courthouse • Can you help?