1871 - 1880

1871

Legislature passes Militia Act, creating three Militia Districts.
Hayden conducts first geological survey in Northwestern Wyoming.
Though Governor Campbell terms equal suffrage experiment "an unqualified success," women are no longer called for jury service. Subsequent Judges contend that equal suffrage does not include jury service.

Yellowstone National Park is created, March 1, as the first national park in the United States.
The Territorial Penitentiary, built at Laramie, is damaged by fire.
By act of Congress, June 1, the President is authorized to negotiate for the southern portion of the Wind River Reservation. Felix Brunot, Chairman of the Board of Indian Commissioners, induces the Shoshone, December 15, to relinquish all of their reservation south of the North Fork of the Popo Agie.
In the Trout Creek Battle, Washakie effectively uses the rifle pit technique to ward off his enemies, the Platte River Indians.

The Wyoming Stock Growers Association (originally the Laramie County Stock Growers Association) is organized.
Penitentiary at Laramie is partly rebuilt.

July 4, Captain A. E. Bates destroys Arapaho Camp during the Battle of Bate's Hole, or "Bate's Battle," on No Wood Creek.
Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer and the Seventh Cavalry camp in Black Hills on branch of Inyan Kara Creek, July 22-23, and he carves his name on a rock at the top of Inyan Kara (Stone-made) Mountain. Two of his men are buried on a hill above his campsite.
Gold is discovered in the Black Hills by a member of the Seventh Cavalry.

Professor Walter P. Jenney and his party of geologists conduct a mineral survey for the government in anticipation of the purchase of the Black Hills from the Sioux. Jenney's stockade, originally on Stockade Beaver Creek, is later (1933) moved to Newcastle.
The Black Hills gold fields are unofficially opened.
An iron bridge, spanning the North Platte River, is built at Fort Laramie. It still stands though it has been abandoned.
First hunting season on big game is from August 15 through January 15.
December 8, Crook County is created from Laramie and Albany counties, and Johnson County from Carbon and Sweetwater.

The Black Hills Stage Line operates on the Cheyenne-Black Hills or Deadwood Trail. Calamity Jane Canary and Wild Bill Hickock frequent the trail. Both are buried at Deadwood.
In spite of road agents, Mrs. Thomas Durbin, going by stagecoach from Cheyenne to Deadwood, carries $10,000 in her handbag for new bank.
Sioux resentment of gold seekers leads to the Indian War of 1876.
Fort Laramie serves as base of operations for military expeditions against the Indians.
Second Powder River Expedition, under General George Crook, leaves Fort Laramie.
Custer and his command are annihilated, June 25, at the Battle of the Little Big Horn in Montana. News of this mars the nation's first centennial celebration.
Cantonment Reno is established, September 22, three miles above site of old Fort Reno.
Dull Knife's Cheyenne Indian camp is destroyed, November 26, by General Ranald MacKenzie's eleven hundred troops.
The diamond hoax, on Diamond Mesa, at head of Rub y Gulch near Warnsutter, creates almost as much excitement as the Indian War of '76. Horace Greeley, the Rothschilds, and Tiffany are said to be among those fleeced by two prospectors who salt the mesa with precious stones brought from Holland.

Cantonment Reno becomes Fort McKinney (1877-95), named for Lieutenant J. A. McKinney, killed in the battle with Dull Knife.
Dinosaur bones are discovered near Medicine Bow.
Agreement is reached with the Shoshone Indians to allow the Northern Arapaho to move onto their reservation on a temporary basis.
March 3, Federal Desert Land Act is passed.

First telephone conversation is held between Cheyenne and Laramie, February 23.
About nine hundred Northern Arapaho are taken to the Wind River Indian Reservation under military escort.
Arapaho settle on the eastern side of the reservation, and a sub-agency is created for them at Arapaho, Wyoming.
Thomas A. Edison is believed to have conceived the idea of the incandescent light at Battle Lake.

Joseph Rankin makes his famous ride to Fort Steele to report the Meeker Massacre in Colorado.
Lotteries and games of chance are outlawed by Legislature. (S.L. 1879, Ch. 56)
Fish Commissioner is appointed by governor for propagation and culture of fish. (S.L. 1879, Ch. 42)