Lander, Atlantic City, and South Pass

Here is our CG just outside Lander.   Only 20 sites but nice - mountains in the background.

The CG office had some brochures about things to do in the area.  We found one that talked about a gold rush and a ghost town which was about 30 miles south of us.  On the way, we (of course) saw many beautiful sites:

The road climbed for a couple of miles and then we saw this valley off to our right:

We found the sign for Atlantic City which said it was about 5 miles away.  The road started out as asphalt but soon changed to gravel.  But we continued on.   And along the way we began to see autumn in the mountains:

And a lake:

Atlantic City was born in 1868 and died in 1878. During that ten year period as many as two thousand miners populated the town along with the usual "ladies" and card sharks. After the boom died, the town became a place for part-time prospectors and vacationers that wanted to try their hand at prospecting. That's where the Atlantic City stands today. It still has its "boardwalk" and lots of what was for the ghost town enthusiast. 

Check out the Dish on the small building:

After Atlantic City, we continued on for about 2 more miles (never totally sure that we were on the right road because there were several turn offs, but we did make it.  These next two pictures are of a gold mine that is still in operation today.

And two signs explaining the gold mine and South Pass City.

Here we have the official sign for the town:

South Pass City is known for it being a gold mining town back in the late 1800’s.  Here is a little history from Google:

South Pass City was founded in 1867 on the heels of the only significant gold discoveries in Wyoming. During its heyday, South Pass City was home to some 1,500 men, women, and children. Despite their many different cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds, they shared a common commitment to fulfill their dreams through hard work and dedication. Many succeeded and many failed, but hope always remained.

During its rich and colorful past, South Pass City has seen the development of the mineral industry, ranching, homesteading, and the decline of Emigrant Trail travel. South Pass City has seen the likes of Butch Cassidy, Calamity Jane, Robert Todd Lincoln and General Phil Sheridan walk its streets.

One hundred years after its founding, South Pass City was given as a gift to the people of Wyoming to share with visitors from throughout the nation and world by the 75th Anniversary Commission. This special gift was to be held in trust and restored to preserve its historical significance. The same commitment and dedication that the original founders showed has helped make the Historic Site at South Pass City one of the most authentic and complete historic sites in the country.

Here are some pictures of the town now that it has been restored.  This is the only store in the town.

And here is the main street of the town's restored buildings:

We walked thru all of them - each one was furnished in the way that it was back then whether it was a home or a blacksmith shop or a saloon, etc.  We found these shoes in one of them.

Schoolhouse

"Fancy" rug in this house.

This was the road they took to get to the gold mines.

Perhaps its most important and lasting legacy has been as the home of women's suffrage. Territorial Representative William Bright of South Pass City, introduced the suffrage bill that allowed women the right to vote and established Wyoming as the "Equality State". Esther Hobart Morris was appointed to be South Pass City's justice of the peace, and in so doing, became the first woman in the United States to hold a political office.

One of the homes on the hillside.

Something crossed the road where we were walking.

And another shot of the gold mine from from the town.

On our way back to the main road, we encountered some cattle along the road and they didn't seem too impressed by us.  No fencing to keep them off the road either!

And one final shot of the surroundings before we got back on the highway.

Next Stop:  Dubois, WY