1891

• Yellowstone Forest Reserve, the first timber reserve in the United States, is established by President Harrison.
• In February, U.S. Senator Warren introduces an unsuccessful Arid Land Bill,a fore runner of the Arid Land Act.
• In June, Tom Waggoner,reputed to be a rustler, is lynched southwest of Newcastle.
• July 4th, Major Frank Walcott suggests a "lynching bee" to members of the Wyoming Stock Grower's Association.
• In August, an itinerant rainmaker, Frank Melbourne, shifts his activities to Wyoming.

1892

• The Northern Wyoming branch of the Burlington Railroad reaches Sheridan.
• Johnson County is invaded by "regulators," stockmen and Texas gunmen, who try to put a stop to cattle rustling. ^[1] The abortive attempt, known as the"Johnson County War," or "Johnson County Invasion," is one of the most highly publicized events in Wyoming history.

1893

• The State Seal in its present design is adopted by the Second Legislature.
• July 1, The Sheridan Inn, built by the Burlington and Sheridan Land Co., opens.
• Arapaho chief, Black Coal, whom Bishop W. H. Zeigler called "the unsung hero of Wyoming," dies at Wind River Reservation. He is honored by his people, who place a monument in his memory at his grave in the Black Coal Cemetery near St. Stephen's Mission.
• On July 4, Bill Rogers, in the presence of several thousand people, climbs Devils Tower, an accomplishment that is repeated two years later by his wife.
• The panic of 1893 has depressing effect on Wyoming economy, and several large industries face bankruptcy. Coal mining is the most promising industry.
• The state's first commercial rodeo is held in Lander.

1894

• Coxeyites, members of Coxey's Army, pass through Wyoming on their way to Washington to support General Jacob S. Coxey's public works project. They commandeer a train, recovered at Green River where fifteen leaders are arrested.
• Sioux Chief Red Cloud, his son, Jack, and Dreaming Bear are jailed in Casper on their way to visit the Arapahoes at Wind River. They are accused of hunting without a license. Their fine, $20 each, is rescinded on promise of good behavior and their leaving town. On their return trip to Pine Ridge Agency, they are again brought before the justice of the peace on the same charge. The Indians agree to give bill of sale of Red Cloud's horse, wagon, and harness to cover the $80 fine and court costs.
• August 18, the Carey Act is approved by Congress and signed by President Grover Cleveland.^[2] It assures federal aid for Wyoming's irrigation projects. One million acres of arid federal lands are turned over to the state for reclamation and settlement. ^[3]
• Estelle Reel, who is elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction, becomes the first woman in Wyoming to be elected to a state office.

1895

• An oil refinery is built at Casper. ^[4]
• The Wyoming Historical Society is created, and a State Librarian is given custody of all historical property.
• In October, Uinta County Sheriff arrests Race Horse, an Idaho Bannock, for "unlawfully"killing seven elk in the Jackson Hole area. The U.S. Circuit Court in Cheyenne holds that game laws do not apply to Indians.The case (No.163) is carried to the U.S. Supreme Court where the decision is reversed. An act (S.L.1897, ch. 25, pp. 48-49) is approved on February 19, 1897, to pay $1,421.50 for the Race Horse case expense out of the unused balance of an appropriation made by the U.S. Congress for the Constitutional Convention of Wyoming.

1896

• Through the McLaughlin Agreement of 1896, the government purchases the Big Hot Spring (Thermopolis) from the Shoshones and Arapahoes.

1897

• Big Horn County, created seven years before,is organized.
• Cheyenne Frontier Days (rodeo), "The Daddy of 'em All," is founded.
• Buffalo Bill's Rough Riders come to Cheyenne.
• Rudefeha copper mine, located near Battle Lake in Carbon County, starts copper boom.
• In 1897-98, Elmer Lovejoy builds Wyoming's first "horseless carriage" in his machine shop in Laramie. ^[5]

1898

• In April, the Spanish-American War breaks out.
• Jim Baker, mountain man,dies May 15.
• "Torrey's Rough Riders, "including about 600 volunteers from Wyoming, entrain in June for Camp Cuba Libre, Jacksonville, Florida, but do not reach their destination because of a train wreck in Mississippi.
• In August, Wyoming National Guardsmen from Evanston arrive in the Philippines.
• In December, Alger's Light Artillery,consisting of 125 Cheyenne men, reaches the Philippines.
• The State Penitentiary is completed at Rawlins.
• President McKinley appoints Estelle Reel National Superintendent of Indian Schools, and the Senate confirms the appointment.

1899

• Legislature provides for a State Game Warden and superintendents of Fish Hatcheries become game wardens. ^[6]
• All out-of-state hunters are required to hire a guide, for a fee of $10.00. The first game license required for residents stipulates that a gun license shall be $1.00. ^[7]
• First closed season on moose is enforced.
• Legislature appropriates $1,500 toward the erection of a monument on the Capitol grounds in memory of Wyoming's Spanish-American War dead.
• Provisions are made for reclamation of desert lands within the State of Wyoming. ^[8]
• Butch Cassidy and Flat Nose George Currie are credited with planning the Union Pacific mail train robbery, June 2, at Wilcox. They dynamite a bridge to prevent the arrival of the second section of the train, and they escape to Montana with $60,000 in unsigned bank notes.

1900

• Census shows Wyoming population as 92,531.
• Dale Creek Bridge, on Sherman Hill, is abandoned by the Union Pacific Railroad.
• Washakie, who has served as chief of the Shoshones sixty years, dies at the age of 102 and is given full military honors when he is buried in the post cemetery at Fort Washakie.
• Another great chief, Sharp Nose, successor to Black Coal, dies. He is the last of the Arapaho chiefs at Wind River to retain his Indian name and his two wives until the time of his death.
• Grace Raymond Hebard wins state golf championship.

2. Congressional Record, 53 Congress, 2 session, pp. 842-23; 28 stat. 422.

3.Session Laws 1895, ch. 38, p.332.

4. By 1965, Natrona County alone had produced 500 million barrels of oil.

5. T.A. Larson, History of Wyoming

6. Session Laws 1899, ch. 19, sec. 1.

7. Session Laws 1899, sec. 14.

8. Revised Statues 1899, S 934, 947, 953.