South Pass City

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South Pass City wasn't an actual stop on the Old Oregon Trail route, but it is an old historic town near the area known to travelers as "South Pass."
There are many historic buildings to explore in this old mining town.  Some of them are presented here.

At it's height, in 1869, South Pass City had nearly 3,000 residents and was considered Wyoming Territories second largest city.  It's history began with the finding of gold in the Carissa Mine in 1867.  As gold rushes go, it soon played out in the 1870's.  As new mining technologies developed, the Carissa Mine opened and closed several times during the 1900's, closing for the final time in 1949.  It was aquired by the State of Wyoming and designated a historic site in 2003.
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Welcome to South Pass City
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South Pass Ave
(Main Street)
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Barney Tibbals cabin.  Barney was the manager of the Carissa Mine who lived in this cabin during the 1890's, later renting it out to employees.
This building, "The Carissa", named for the area mine, was built in the 1890's by James Smith.  It was a saloon with basic furnishings where customers could find refreshment, catch up on the local news, and find out about the lastest gold and silver strikes.  In the 1940's it was run by story-teller John "Shorty" Nichols.
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Constructed in 1896 from logs salvaged from the 1870 Episcopal Church, this building was the Smith-Sherlock Company Store.  It replaced the origional store that was located just east of it.  This store remained in operation, and was managed by, three generations of the Sherlock Family until 1948.  It also served as the town post office.
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This building, erected in about 1874 by James Smith was a mercantile business for nearly 20 years.  Today it serves as a mining museum of the Sweetwater Mines.
Click here to see inside the museum.
This structure, built in 1868 was known as "The Cave."  It has thick stone walls that are also lined with brick.  It protected perishable food and liquor, and according to some reports provided protection from raiding Indians.  Click here to see inside "The Cave". 
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School House
This school house was in use until 1946.
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Wolverine Mine Stamp Mill
South Pass City did have a school, but not always a teacher.  Sometimes parents had to send to their children to stay with relatives in another location during the school year.  When a teacher was available, most of them were well respected by the children and their parents, but occasionally they were not.  There is even a report that one day the Sheriff came by the school and arrested the teacher for stealing horses in a nearby town!
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This was the E. A. Slack Cabin site.   This building, erected on the site of the origional building that burned down in 1871, is a museum of the South Pass City newspaper which was published here
Click here to see inside.
Wyoming was the first state to grant women the right to vote, and also was home to the world's first woman Justice of The Peace.  Esther Hobart Morris served as Justice of The Peace in South Pass City for 8 months during 1870.  This monument stands as a memorial to her.
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This was the local black smith shop containing a coal-fired forge, anvil, and tools for repairing wagon and other horse-drawn equipment.  As automobile replaced the horse and wagon, this became a garage.
Click here to see the blacksmith shop.
South Pass Hotel and Restaurant
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When first opened in 1868 this hotel was known as the Idaho House.  It was the finest establishment in South Pass City.  The stage coach stop was at the front door, and it served as the local post office until 1898 when it moved to the Smith-Sherlock store.
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In 1899 this restaurant was added to the hotel.
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This building, erected in 1868, was origionally a bank but in 1873 turned into a saloon and card room.  Click here to see inside.
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