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Survey of Historic Sites and Buildings

	TOM SUN RANCH Wyoming
Location: At the junction of Natrona and Carbon Counties, on Wyo. 220, about 6 miles west of Independence Rock, in the south-central part of the State. Tom Sun Ranch

Ownership and Administration. Privately owned.

Significance. This ranch is one of the best preserved that dates from the boom period of the range cattle industry on the Plains. Its site is historic and scenic, for Sun chose his range on the Oregon Trail along the Sweetwater River near Devil's Gate and Independence Rock. A French-Canadian who had been a mountain man and knew the Wyoming country from his trapping days, Sun tried prospecting in the early 1870's at the sodium deposits near Casper, but Indians burned his cabin. Sun then turned to cattle raising. His ranch consisted of about 14 square miles, which was well-watered. Soon it was running about 6,000 head.

Like many cattlemen of Wyoming and Montana, Sun obtained his cattle from the Oregon country—fine Durham stock that were trailed over the Cascades and Rocky Mountains through South Pass. A cowboy who accompanied Sun on the drive from Oregon wrote: "We followed the Oregon Trail, swam the rivers, climbed the mountains, and then followed the Indian river. We were five months making the return trip." He added that the signs posted at the Tom Sun Ranch "No women or barbed wire allowed" were accurate.

During the 1870's and 1880's the ranch was typical of the medium-sized ranching operations in the cattle country. The Cheyenne Daily Leader remarked in 1882 that "the eastern person of inquiring turn of mind who writes to his friends out west to ask what a ranch is like would find his answer in a description of Tom Sun's."

The Tom Sun Ranch, part of which is portrayed in this modern photograph, was one of the first ranches in Wyoming. It was typical medium-sized ranch.

Present Appearance. The Tom Sun Ranch has continuously been in the Sun family. The present owner, Bernard, a grandson of Tom, runs about 3,000 head of Herefords. A considerable number of the original ranch buildings have survived. The low-roofed ranchhouse is the original log structure built by. Sun in 1872, though it contains log additions. Several of what are believed to be original outbuildings are still standing. The setting of the ranch is practically the same as when Sun first staked his claim. The ranch is not open to the public. [27]

NHL Designation: 12/19/60