National Register of Historic Places

McDonald Ranch

Chugwater, Laramie County, Wyoming
Listed
May 13, 1987
Type
District
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
87000777

About this property

The McDonald Ranch is a historic ranch complex located 14 miles (23 km) southwest of Chugwater in Laramie County, Wyoming. Donald McDonald, a Scottish immigrant, founded the ranch in 1881. McDonald developed his ranch using his personal savings, which was uncommon in a region where most ranches could draw upon outside capital or inheritances. However, his ranch became one of the most successful in northern Laramie County; by McDonald's death in 1925, the ranch was worth over $180,000 and had acquired portions of three other major ranches. The ranch complex includes seven buildings, six of which are contributing buildings. The one-room log cabin McDonald built when he established the ranch still stands on the property. In 1890, McDonald built a stone ranch house to accommodate his growing family; the house, the main building on the ranch, is typical of the period and region, as the lack of local or imported timber made stone construction popular. Other contributing buildings on the ranch include two connected stock barns with gambrel roofs, a bunkhouse, a garage, and partially collapsed root cellars. The ranch was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

Location

Chugwater, Laramie County, Wyoming
41.65512, -105.03493

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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The Land
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Geology
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Nearby Historic Sites

Diamond Ranch
Industrial
6.4 mi
Swan Land and Cattle Company Headquarters
Industrial
12.8 mi
Chugwater Soda Fountain
Industrial
13.1 mi
Grant, Robert, Ranch
Listed
14.1 mi
Dereemer Ranch Historic District
Listed
17.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was McDonald Ranch listed on the National Register?

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

What type of historic resource is McDonald Ranch?

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

What is the period of significance for McDonald Ranch?

The period of significance for McDonald Ranch is recorded as the industrial era, specifically around 1881.

Can I research the history near McDonald Ranch?

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