Wyoming’s rugged landscape showcases remarkable homesteads that have withstood the test of time. These structures, built by pioneers who ventured west under the Homestead Act of 1862, offer authentic glimpses into frontier life. Here are ten historic homesteads that continue to stand as testaments to Wyoming’s pioneering past.
1. Shane Cabin (1899) – Grand Teton National Park
Built around 1899 by prospector Bill Menor, the Shane Cabin later became part of Mormon Row when Roy and May Shane purchased it in the 1920s. This simple log structure sits perfectly framed against the majestic Teton Range, creating one of Wyoming’s most iconic views. The cabin features classic pioneer construction with hand-hewn logs, a stone foundation, and a pitched roof designed to withstand heavy snow loads. Now protected within Grand Teton National Park, it offers visitors an authentic glimpse of the modest dwellings that sheltered early settlers through harsh Wyoming winters. At the same time, they carved out new lives in this challenging frontier landscape.
2. John Moulton Homestead (1907) – Mormon Row
The John Moulton homestead stands as a testament to perseverance in Jackson Hole’s harsh climate. Established in 1907 by Mormon settlers, the property’s distinctive pink stucco farmhouse (built in 1938) and weathered wooden barn create a striking contrast against the dramatic Teton backdrop. John and Bartha Moulton raised six children here while developing a successful cattle operation that sustained their family for decades. The homestead’s irrigation systems, carefully designed outbuildings, and protected windbreaks demonstrate the ingenious adaptations settlers made to survive in Wyoming’s challenging environment. Now preserved within Grand Teton National Park’s Mormon Row Historic District, the Moulton property illustrates how homesteaders transformed sagebrush plains into productive agricultural land through determination and community cooperation.
3. T.A. Moulton Barn (1913) – Mormon Row
Perhaps Wyoming’s most photographed structure, the T.A. Moulton Barn was painstakingly built by Thomas Alma Moulton over thirty years beginning in 1913. This iconic gable-roofed barn with its distinctive pitched roof stands against the dramatic Teton Range backdrop, creating a scene that has become synonymous with Wyoming’s frontier heritage. Thomas and his wife Lucille established their homestead under the challenging conditions of Jackson Hole, gradually expanding their operation from a small log cabin to a productive 160-acre ranch. The barn’s sturdy log construction and careful design reflect the practical knowledge required for successful homesteading, with features specifically adapted to protect livestock during harsh Wyoming winters while maximizing storage for the short growing season’s precious hay harvest.
4. Andy Chambers Homestead (1912) – Mormon Row
The Andy Chambers homestead features well-preserved structures dating from 1912, including the original cabin, barn, and outbuildings. Andy and Ida Chambers were among the founding Mormon settlers who established the Grovont community, later known as Mormon Row. Their property exemplifies the communal irrigation efforts that transformed Jackson Hole’s arid landscape into productive farmland. The Chambers’ success is evident in their homestead’s growth from a primitive cabin to a more substantial family home with specialized outbuildings. Weathered logs and hand-forged hardware throughout the property reveal the self-sufficiency required of early homesteaders, who created everything from furniture to farm implements using locally available materials. Today, the restored Chambers property provides valuable insights into daily life during Wyoming’s homesteading era.
5. Jim Goe Cabin (1887) – Laramie Plains
Built in 1887, the Jim Goe Cabin stands as one of the oldest intact homesteader structures in the Laramie Plains region. This simple one-room dwelling constructed of hand-hewn logs represents the first wave of settlement in Wyoming Territory following the completion of the transcontinental railroad. Jim Goe, a former Union soldier, claimed his 160 acres under the Homestead Act and constructed this modest shelter using only basic tools and locally harvested timber. The cabin’s small footprint, minimal windows, and central fireplace illustrate the priorities of early settlers: creating basic shelter against Wyoming’s extreme elements before gradually improving their holdings. Despite its simplicity, the cabin’s sturdy construction has allowed it to survive nearly 140 years, providing valuable insights into early homesteading conditions.
6. Hunter Hereford Ranch (1909) – Jackson Hole
Established in 1909 by William and Elizabeth Hunter, the Hunter Hereford Ranch grew into one of Jackson Hole’s most successful operations. The main house, built in 1917, showcases more refined architecture than earlier homesteads, featuring multiple rooms, proper windows, and painted siding instead of bare logs. This transition reflects the evolution from survival to prosperity that successful homesteaders achieved. The Hunters specialized in breeding Hereford cattle, developing stock specifically adapted to Wyoming’s high-altitude conditions. Their expanded compound of specialized barns, corrals, and outbuildings demonstrates how pioneering ranchers developed sustainable agricultural practices suited to the region’s unique challenges. Now preserved as a historic site, the ranch illustrates the economic development that followed Wyoming’s initial settlement period.
7. Luther Taylor Cabin (1916) – Grand Teton National Park
Made famous as the filming location for the classic 1953 western “Shane,” the Luther Taylor cabin was actually built in 1916 by its namesake homesteader. This authentic log structure sits in a picturesque meadow within Grand Teton National Park, representing a typical small cattle ranching operation from the early 20th century. Taylor, a deaf-mute settler, claimed this land and built his homestead using classic log construction techniques with dovetailed corners and chinked walls. The cabin’s simple design features a central living area with sleeping spaces and essential storage, demonstrating the practical priorities of frontier life. Several outbuildings including a barn and root cellar complete this well-preserved example of a working homestead that sustained a single family through Wyoming’s challenging seasonal cycles.
8. Bishop Homestead (1896) – Centennial Valley
Constructed in 1896 by Alfred Bishop, this homestead in Wyoming’s Centennial Valley includes a distinctive two-story log house that demonstrates the evolution of frontier architecture. Bishop, arriving with carpentry skills from his native England, incorporated superior craftsmanship into this home built for his growing family. The structure features more sophisticated elements than earlier homesteads, including proper stairs, multiple bedrooms, glass windows, and a separate kitchen addition. Surrounding outbuildings include a blacksmith shop, root cellar, and specialized livestock shelters that supported the family’s mixed agricultural operation. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Bishop Homestead illustrates how pioneer families gradually developed their properties from basic shelters into established farms as they put down permanent roots in Wyoming Territory.
9. Miller Ranch (1898) – Cody
Established in 1898 by George and Libbie Miller, this homestead near Cody represents the wave of settlement that followed Buffalo Bill Cody’s promotion of Wyoming’s Bighorn Basin. The Miller’s log cabin exemplifies frontier construction techniques using available materials and simple tools, with hand-hewn logs, dovetailed corners, and a stone foundation. The couple developed their homestead into a productive ranch that eventually encompassed several hundred acres. Additional structures including a barn, chicken coop, smokehouse, and workshop demonstrate the self-sufficient nature of these early operations. Now preserved as part of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West complex, the Miller Ranch offers visitors authentic insights into daily life during Wyoming’s homesteading era, with original furnishings and tools illustrating the practical challenges faced by pioneer families.
10. Cunningham Cabin (1888) – Grand Teton National Park
Constructed in 1888 by John Pierce Cunningham, this double-pen log cabin in Grand Teton National Park exemplifies the “Rocky Mountain” style of log construction. Cunningham, a Virginia native who fought for the Confederacy, headed west after the Civil War and established this homestead in Jackson Hole. The cabin’s distinctive design features two separate living spaces connected by a central breezeway under a continuous roof—a practical adaptation providing both living quarters and workspace protected from Wyoming’s extreme weather. Cunningham operated a successful 400-acre ranch here until 1928, transitioning from cattle to more profitable hay production as Jackson Hole’s economy evolved. The property’s well-preserved structures, including original fencing and irrigation systems, provide valuable insights into the adaptable agricultural practices that allowed homesteaders to thrive in this challenging frontier environment.