Near Cody in Park County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)

"Corbett's Shebang" at Sinking Water Crossing

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 14, 2015

1. "Corbett's Shebang" at Sinking Water Crossing Marker

Inscription. On September 10th 1880, Victor Arland and John F. Corbett set up the first mercantile establishment in the Big Horn Basin on the Indian Trace that follows Trail Creek. Looking to the cattlemen for business, they moved to Cottonwood Creek in 1883, then to Meeteetse Creek in 1884 where Arland, their final trading post, was established.
Corbett, doing the freighting from Billings for company enterprises, set up a way station in the river bottom where the freight road crossed the Stinking Water River—later renamed the Shoshone. A bridge, the first of five to span the river at this point, was constructed in 1883 at a cost of $5,000 raised by subscription from cattlemen, the Northern Pacific Railroad and Billings merchants.
Accommodations provided were a small store, a saloon and overnight lodging. The post office was established in 1885 with Corbett the postmaster. It was a gathering place and social center long before Cody came into existence twelve years later.
Corbett died in bed at his Meeteetse home December 15, 1910. His partner, Arland, went to his reward in more traditional style—dying with his

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boots on. In December, 1889, a shot fired through a saloon window in Red Lodge, Montana, killed him while he is playing poker.
The name of Corbett lingers on but the need for “Corbett’s Shebang” in the river bottom ended with the arrival of the railroad in November 1901.

Erected by Wyoming State Parks & Cultural Resources.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is September 10, 1880.

Location. 44° 34.859′ N, 108° 58.223′ W. Marker is near Cody, Wyoming, in Park County. It is on Powell Highway (Alternate U.S. 14) near Happy Trails Road, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4757 Powell Highway, Cody WY 82414, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Bighorn Basin

and in Greater Yellowstone.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 14, 2015

2. "Corbett's Shebang" at Sinking Water Crossing Marker

The marker is on the left.

6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Eagle's Nest Stage Station (here, next to this marker); Republic of Korea War Memorial (approx. 5.8 miles away); Wyoming Korean War Veterans Memorial (approx. 5.8 miles away); Powder River Let'er Buck! / Weapons of WWI (approx. 5.8 miles away); Service * Sacrifice (approx. 5.8 miles away); OSS Memorial (approx. 5.8 miles away); State of Wyoming WWII Memorial (approx. 5.9 miles away); Wyoming National Guard Memorial (approx. 5.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cody.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 6, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 30, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,371 times since then and 92 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 30, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.