SECTION 3 - New Times Media Corporation

Section 3
All Wyoming Area Codes are 307
the Battle of the Little Bighorn all took place
within just miles of Sheridan. For that reason,
this portion of the Bozeman Trail became known
as the Bloody Bozeman. It was not until the surrender
of leaders such as Red Cloud, Crazy
Horse, and Sitting Bull that hostilities eased, and
the area was open to settlement.
In 1878, mountain man Jim Mason built the
first permanent building here. A store and post
office opened in 1881. Storeowner Harry Mandel
sold the place to Jim Loucks, who planned the
town and named it for his Civil War commander,
General Philip Sheridan. Homesteaders and cattle
ranchers moved into the area, creating an agricultural
crossroads where the Burlington Railroad set
up a stop in 1892. The discovery of coal in the area
added to the towns growing prosperity. The building
of several flourmills and a sugar beet factory
contributed to the economy as well. The twentieth
century brought several booms and busts, but now
the city has settled into a serene mix of agriculture,
energy production, and tourism.
The lowest city in Wyoming, Sheridan’s elevation
is 3745 feet.
Beckton
Also known as Beckton Junction, pioneer George
W. Beck built a flourmill here and established a
post office in 1883. The post office was discontinued.
There are only a few houses here today.
T Sheridan Travel and Tourism
I-90 & E 5th St in Sheridan. 673-7120 or
888-596-6787. www.sheridanwyoming.org
T Sheridan Rest Stop & Visitor’s
Center
I-90 exit 23 in Sheridan
T Wyoming Game and Fish Dept.
Visitor Center
Across road from Sheridan Rest Stop
View taxidermist displays of native Wyoming
creatures, and find out more about wildlife, hunting,
and fishing in the West.
T Wyoming State Bird Farm
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department, along
with sportsmen and women, rallied to build a
game bird farm outside of Sheridan, Woming.
George R. Wells was chosen to build and manage
the farm. Pheasant eggs from Oregon and
Montana were the first to be hatched and released
in 1937. Currently, the Sheridan Farm produces
nearly 13,000 birds each year. Touring the farm is
encouraged. For private tours, the bird farm may
be contacted directly.
H Big Horns
The abundance of Rocky Mountain bighorn
sheep led the Indians to name this mountain
range after these majestic animals. The Big
Horn Mountains are a wildlife viewing paradise.
Several native Indian tribes competed with each
other and later with settlers for access to the
mountains and surrounding river basins.
Eventually settlers took possession of the land.
Due to excessive hunting and introduced diseases,
the once abundant bighorn sheep were
almost eliminated from this area by the turn of
the century. Today, bighorn sheep are being
reintroduced to the Big Horn Mountains.
At high elevations, mountain meadows are
interspersed with timber stands which provide
food and summer habitat for elk and mule
deer. Willow stands provide forage for moose.
The forests house black bears, snowshoe hares,
marmots, chipmunks and blue grouse.
At lower elevations, white-tailed deer, moun-
146
tain lions, sharp-tailed grouse, wild turkeys,
black-billed magpies and over 300 other kinds
of wildlife inhabit the foothills and riparian
areas. Notice the diverse habitat types which
make this area so productive for wildlife. The
riparian zones bordered by stands of cottonwood
trees and cropland provide excellent
feeding areas. The steep foothills of the Big
Horns furnish crucial winter range for big game.
Discover more about the current status of
bighorn sheep and the diverse wildlife communities
of Wyoming by touring the Wyoming
Game and Fish Department Visitor Center
across the highway.
LF Best Western Sheridan Center
& Trolleyline Restaurant
612 N Main St in Sheridan. 674-7421 or
877-437-4326.
www.bestwestern.com/sheridancenter
All roads in the West lead to the Best Western
Sheridan Center. Providing affordable top quality
accommodations, the hotel features coffeemakers,
hairdryers, iron/ironing boards, and free highspeed
Internet in every room. Some rooms
including microwaves, refrigerators, and Business
Class features. Guests also enjoy indoor and outdoor
heated pools, a Jacuzzi, complimentary fitness
center use at the nearby YMCA, onsite
laundry, and complete business services.
Although numerous restaurants are within walking
distance, the hotel conveniently serves delicious
breakfasts, lunches, and dinners at the
onsite Trolleyline Restaurant. As an added bonus,
the hotel is on the Sheridan Trolley route and is
just minutes from historic sites, museums, theaters,
galleries, shopping, and outdoor recreation.
With so many amenities and an ideal location,
the Best Western Sheridan Center is your destination
for both leisure and business travel!
L Americas Best Value Inn
580 E 5th St in Sheridan. 672-9757 or
800-771-4761. www.americasbestvalueinn.com
Located in a quite residential location just off I-
90’s historical central Exit 23, Americas Best Value
Inn is an ideal place to rest while in beautiful
Sheridan. Each guest room includes a fridge,
microwave, 50 cable TV channels, A/C, radio,
alarm clock, iron/board, and more. WIFI and
lobby internet, dataport telephones and wake-up
calls offer guests comfort and convenience in
addition to the 24-hour front desk, guest laundry,
vending, barbeque area, outdoor plug-ins, and
drive-up parking. Before exploring the area’s
beautiful outdoors, historic sites, and great shopping,
wake up to a complimentary deluxe breakfast
including eggs, waffles, cereal, fruit, and
gourmet coffee. With so many amenities and an
ideal location halfway between Yellowstone and
Mt. Rushmore, Americas Best Value Inn guarantees
a great night’s sleep and an enjoyable stay.
S L.A.’s Antiques and Things
645 E 5th St in Sheridan. 673-0323
M Sheridan Travel and Tourism
E 5th St in Sheridan. 673-7120
4 Food, Lodging
T Sheridan Chamber
of Commerce
707 Sheridan in Sheridan. 672-2485 or
800-453-3650. www.sheridanwy.com
T Sheridan Heritage Center Inc
856 Broadway in Sheridan. 674-2178
TS King’s Saddlery Museum
184 N Main in Sheridan. 672-2702
This collection features over 500 custom-made
saddles, including (but not limited to) several
made by famed saddlemaker Don King. One of
the museum’s most treasured item is a Japanese
saddle from the 1600s. There is more craftsmanship
on displays than just saddles. The museum
also houses guns, chaps, spurs, wagons, Native
American and frontier clothing, and an old horse
drawn hearse. Admission is free. Call for hours.
T Historic Sheridan Inn Museum
Fifth St exit off of I-90 at Sheridan. 674-5440
The Old Sheridan Inn was once the place to be if
you were part of the elite in nothern Wyoming. It
was originally built to accomodate passengers on
the Burlington and Missouri Railroad. Over the
years, such famous people have been here as
Calamity Jane, Ernest Hemingway, President
Herbert Hoover, and even Bob Hope. Buffalo Bill
Cody used to stay here when he came to town to
audition acts for his show. It became the first
place in Sheridan to have steam heat, telephones,
and electricity around the turn of the century.
The Inn was partially restored in 1965, and then
refurbished again when the Sheridan Heritage
Center took responsibility for it. The SHC accepts
donations to help further restore the Inn and
keep it running. Call for hours.
T Sheridan County
Fulmer Public Library
335 W Alger in Sheridan. 674-8585
Permanent exhibits feature works of regional
artists and Native American artifacts. There are
also changing monthly exhibits. The Wyoming
room features collections including local and
regional history and U.S. genealogy. Open
Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.,
Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays,
September to May, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
H Crook’s Campaign, 1876
W Dow and Alger in Sheridan
On this site, the junction of Big and Little Goose
Ultimate Wyoming Atlas and Travel Encyclopedia