National Historic Landmark

Swan Land and Cattle Company Headquarters

Chugwater, Platte County, Wyoming
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
66000760

About this property

The Swan Land and Cattle Company Headquarters are a historic ranch headquarters complex on Wyoming Highway 313 in Chugwater, Wyoming. Organized in 1883 in Scotland, the Swan Company was one of the largest ranching operations in the nation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, managing more than one million acres of land. Now a much smaller operation, its former headquarters complex was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1964. The Swan Land and Cattle Company Headquarters complex is located on the south side of Chugwater, at the junction of Happy Hollow Road and Lone Tree Road (Wyoming Highway 313). The four surviving buildings are arrayed in a north-south line along Happy Hollow Road, a former stagecoach route. All are single-story frame structures finished in wooden clapboards. The general store, at the northern end, has flanking shed-roof sections and was built in 1913. To its south is the former manager's residence, built in 1876 and featuring some finely crafted Stick style decoration. To its south are the utilitarian office building and a barn, the former built in 1918 and the latter c. 1876. The property is adorned by mature cottonwoods planted by the company in 1888. The Swan Company was founded in 1883 by Scottish investors with an initial capital investment of $3 million. At its peak in 1887-88, the company had more than 113,000 head of cattle and controlled more than one million acres of rangeland across eastern Wyoming and western Nebraska. In 1904, it converted its business from cattle to sheep, peaking in 1911 with 112,000 head. The company began liquidating its holdings in 1945, and it managed just 5,400 acres (2,200 ha) when this property was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964. National Register of Historic Places listings in Platte County, Wyoming Swan Land and Cattle Company Headquarters National Historic Landmark at the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office Swan Land & Cattle Company, State Route 313, Chugwater, Platte, WY at the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) Swan Land & Cattle Company, Main Office, State Route 313, Chugwater, Platte, WY at HABS Swan Land & Cattle Company, Barn, State Route 313, Chugwater, Platte, WY at HABS Swan Land & Cattle Company, Manager's House, State Route 313, Chugwater, Platte, WY at HABS Swan Land & Cattle Company, Mercantile Store, State Route 313, Chugwater, Platte, WY at HABS

Location

Chugwater, Platte County, Wyoming
41.74847, -104.81956

Categories

EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT
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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Nearby Historic Sites

Chugwater Soda Fountain
Industrial
0.6 mi
Grant, Robert, Ranch
Listed
9.6 mi
Diamond Ranch
Industrial
12.1 mi
McDonald Ranch
Industrial
12.8 mi
Wheatland Railroad Depot
Industrial
22.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Swan Land and Cattle Company Headquarters listed on the National Register?

Swan Land and Cattle Company Headquarters was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Swan Land and Cattle Company Headquarters?

Swan Land and Cattle Company Headquarters is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Swan Land and Cattle Company Headquarters a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Swan Land and Cattle Company Headquarters has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Swan Land and Cattle Company Headquarters?

The period of significance for Swan Land and Cattle Company Headquarters is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Swan Land and Cattle Company Headquarters?

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