Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A neat little Western town with a lot of history and a surprising Basque influence, Buffalo
(population 4,624, elevation 4,645 feet) was settled in 1879. Historically it is among Wyom-
ing's biggest sheep towns, which was true as recently as the 1980s, until a late-spring storm
after shearing in 1984 caused major losses and reminded locals of the Great Die-up of
1886-1887. Political and environmental conditions never allowed ranchers to recover. In-
stead, Buffalo makes the most of its beautiful location in the foothills of the Big Horn
Mountains, its easy access to scenic drives and outdoor adventures, and its historic build-
ings and museums.
Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum
The origins of the
Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum
(100 Fort St., 307/684-9331,
www.jimgatchell.com
,
9am-4pm Mon.-Fri. Jan.-late May and early Sept.-late Dec.,
9am-6pm Mon.-Sat. and noon-6pm Sun. late May-early Sept., $5 adults, $4 seniors, $3 chil-
dren 6-17, free for children under 6) can be traced back to the opening of the Buffalo Phar-
macy in 1900, the first of its kind in town. People from all walks of life—cattle barons, out-
laws, and homesteaders—frequented Jim Gatchell's drugstore, and many would give him
small mementos that he kept. Over time, they began entrusting him with pieces of Johnson
County history. He also befriended the local Indians, and they too would bestow on him
different cultural and personal artifacts.
After Gatchell passed away in 1954, his family donated his collection to Johnson County
with the condition it would be shared with the public. The museum was established three
years later. Its focus is on Johnson County's frontier-era history, and more than 15,000
pieces are on display. There is a large array of Native American artifacts and many pieces
that can be traced back to the U.S. Cavalry. There are a variety of wagons, historical photos,
a model of Fort Phil Kearny, artifacts from the fateful Fetterman Fight, and many interpret-
ative materials related to the Bozeman Trail.
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Occidental Hotel
Entering the
Occidental Hotel
(10 N. Main St., 307/684-0451,
www.occidentalwyoming.com
,
$50-285), many visitors feel as if they've stepped back in
time. The hotel has been painstakingly restored to its original 1880s splendor, which in-
