Category Archives: Ranch history

Rethinking Ranchers and Government: A Fresh Look at an Old Debate

For decades, the conventional wisdom has portrayed Western ranchers as caught in a paradox—an industry built on independence that criticized federal regulation while relying on government programs. It’s become the accepted narrative—and according to Dr. Tim Gresham, it misses the … Continue reading

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Wrangling the Western Metaphor: Charles Belden’s Wyoming Imagery

Reaching the Pitchfork Ranch in the 1920s wasn’t easy. In fact, it was arduous. Imagine yourself on the trek. After transferring at the Billings, Montana, branch line to the end of the rails in Cody, Wyoming, a light horse-drawn stage … Continue reading

Posted in Digital collections, outdoor recreation, Photographic collections, Ranch history, Tourism, Uncategorized, Western history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Joseph S. Palen: Cheyenne Frontier Days Chronicler

If you’re interested in the history of Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD), a great place to start is the J. S. Palen papers at the American Heritage Center. Born in 1912 in Salina, Kansas, Palen became fascinated with cowboy culture at … Continue reading

Posted in Agricultural history, Current events, popular culture, Ranch history, Rodeo history, Uncategorized, Western history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Infamous Johnson County War – The papers of Fred G.S. Hesse

On the morning of April 9, 1892, small-time rancher Nate Champion and itinerant cowboy Nick Ray were beset by an army of cattlemen and Texas hired guns, numbering about fifty, who had come to Johnson County to clear out the … Continue reading

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Black History Highlight: Stepp Family Ranch

The AHC would like to celebrate African-American experiences in the west by sharing this photograph of the Stepp family; taken on Alonzo T. Stepp’s ranch in the 1920s. Originally from Berea, Kentucky, Alonzo Stepp came to Wyoming to try cowboy … Continue reading

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Photo of the Week: People and Their Pets

Many of us have a pet at home, whether our companion be a bird, cat, fish, dog, or a pocket-sized rodent.  However, most of us have likely never considered adding something more exotic to our living menagerie.   A chimpanzee? A … Continue reading

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Tracing the Trails of Wyoming’s Cattle Industry through the AHC Archives

The records of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association held at the AHC form the nucleus of a large body of material documenting animal husbandry in the West. The Association’s stated mission is to advocate for issues related to the cattle industry, … Continue reading

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From Ranches to Politics: A Glimpse into L.R.A. Condit’s Past

L.R.A. Condit was born in Lawrenceburg, Iowa, in 1858. He came to Wyoming in the fall of 1885. He worked at several ranches in Northern Wyoming before finally establishing the Condit Ranch near Kaycee in Johnson County, Wyoming, in 1894. … Continue reading

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