List of the oldest buildings in Wyoming

This article lists the oldest extant buildings in Wyoming, including extant buildings and structures constructed prior to and during the United States rule over Wyoming. Only buildings built prior to 1880 are suitable for inclusion on this list, or the building must be the oldest of its type.

In order to qualify for the list, a structure must:

  • be a recognizable building (defined as any human-made structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or continuous occupancy);
  • incorporate features of building work from the claimed date to at least 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in height and/or be a listed building.

This consciously excludes ruins of limited height, roads and statues. Bridges may be included if they otherwise fulfill the above criteria. Dates for many of the oldest structures have been arrived at by radiocarbon dating or dendrochronology and should be considered approximate. If the exact year of initial construction is estimated, it will be shown as a range of dates.

List of oldest buildings

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Building Image Location First built Use Notes
Old Bedlam at Fort Laramie National Historic Site   Torrington, Wyoming 1849 Fort Oldest building built in Wyoming[1]
Fort Bridger   Fort Bridger, Wyoming 1858 Fort Several 1858 buildings survive, including the sentry box and ruins of the commissary building and the old guardhouse.[2]
Blacksmith shop at Fort Halleck (Wyoming)   Fort Halleck (Wyoming) 1860s Fort
Fort Fred Steele State Historic Site   Fort Fred Steele State Historic Site 1860s Fort
Fort Sanders (Wyoming)   Albany County, Wyoming 1869 Fort
Wyoming Territorial Penitentiary   Laramie, Wyoming 1872 Penitentiary
Jim Baker Cabin   Savery, Wyoming 1873
Bath Ranch   Laramie, Wyoming 1875 Residence
Durlacher House   Laramie, Wyoming 1875-1878 Residence Queen Anne style house built by German immigrants.[3]
Old Main (University of Wyoming)   Laramie, Wyoming 1886 University Oldest University of Wyoming building
Rock Church (Auburn, Wyoming)   Auburn, Wyoming 1889 Church One of oldest churches and buildings in Star Valley.[4]

Buildings built elsewhere and moved to Wyoming

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Building Image Location First built Use Notes
Buffalo Bill Boyhood Home   Cody, Wyoming 1841 Residence Moved from LeClaire, Iowa in 1933 to Cody.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Wayland, Andrew (2018). "Fort Laramie: A Historic Guide to the West Historic Buildings Guide". ProQuest: 29–38 – via ProQuest.
  2. ^ "Fort Bridger State Historic Site, Wyoming" https://www.legendsofamerica.com/wy-fortbridger/
  3. ^ Stephanie Lowe, "Durlacher House", Published: November 8, 2014 https://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/durlacher-house
  4. ^ "Rock Church" https://wyoshpo.wyo.gov/index.php/programs/national-register/wyoming-listings/view-full-list/678-rock-church
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