Circle Ranch
National Register of Historic Places

Circle Ranch

Big Piney, Sublette County, Wyoming
Listed
May 13, 1987
Type
District
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
87000778

About this property

The Circle Ranch, also known as the R.L. Miller Ranch has been continuously operated as a working cattle ranch for more than 100 years. Located in Sublette County, Wyoming, United States, it was first occupied as a homestead by Otto Liefer between 1878 and 1880. Liefer sold his claim to James Mickelson in 1895, who developed the ranch into one of the largest ranching operations in the area. The ranch has remained in the Mickelson family ever since. The cottonwood log Liefer cabin remains standing, along with a cabin built about the same time by Nicolas Swan. Together, they are the oldest permanent structures standing in Sublette County. The early cabins are surrounded by ranch buildings built by the Mickelson-Miller family, including a 1905 ranch house. By 1915 Mickelsons' holdings in the area amounted to 20,000 acres (8,100 ha), with 6000 cattle. The Circle Ranch was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

Location

Big Piney, Sublette County, Wyoming
42.52191, -110.18143

Categories

AGRICULTUREARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

ENP Bridge over Green River
Industrial
20.8 mi
Sommers Ranch Headquarters Historic District
Industrial
21 mi
Daniel School
Industrial
24.3 mi
Father DeSmet's Prairie Mass Site
Early Republic
25 mi
Upper Green River Rendezvous Site
Listed
25.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Circle Ranch listed on the National Register?

Circle Ranch was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 13, 1987.

What type of historic resource is Circle Ranch?

Circle Ranch is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Circle Ranch?

The period of significance for Circle Ranch is recorded as the industrial era, specifically around 1878.

Can I research the history near Circle Ranch?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Circle Ranch will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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