south pass city state historic site

LynneS102

Yes, there is an entry fee, but it is worth it. You drive past the Carissa gold mine on a dirt road and come across this preserved town. Even outside the preservation area, you can see old structures.

Savannah38372

Wow, this place is absolutely awesome! Excellent preservation of the old mining buildings that are left. One of the stores still operates as a store AND the post office! We stumbled on this site by accident and it turned out to be a highlight of our trip. This site is out of the way but so worth a stop.

janeh906

Great job of preservation. A nice and scenic drive from Lander, although road signs out of Lander were sort of confusing. Walking around the town, down the boardwalk and entering all the buildings was like stepping back in time. Helpful people on site. I will probably make another trip back to tour the Clarissa Mine...it was booked solid when I was there.Drove over to Encampment for lunch before heading home. Nice way to spend he day, and a good road trip.

SWriter

Extremely well done! If you're anywhere in the area, please think seriously about visiting this site. As another reviewer recently said, "The city gives an excellent glimpse into the lives of people who lived here 150 years ago." So true. We came on a day when there were few visitors and we took our time going through each "home" and building. The exhibits are well designed and interesting. It was a bit cool, so the General Store was warmed by a pine-wood stove. The aroma was wonderful. This is the ideal spot to bring a family; kids would enjoy it . . . and there's a rushing stream that goes through town. There is also a tour of the actual gold mine but we were unable to stay for the appointed time.

thunefeld

Spent the day following the Oregon and Emigrant Trails over the Continental Divide in the Rockies via South Pass. South Pass City - now a State Park - gives an excellent glimpse into the lives of those who lived here 150 years ago. The entire area - over the pass, then through the high (7500 foot elevation) deserts of southwest Wyoming - paint a picture of those who walked through the pass seeking the promised land. Contrary to the movies, wagons were full of supplies and furniture - not people. Adults and children walked, day after day, over desolate terrain, all the way to the Pacific Ocean - just 150 years ago- with only a 90% chance of survival. And we get upset when our luggage is delayed 30 minutes in the air-conditioned airport?

KristyMcCullers

Plenty to see and very informative. Nice walking place with lots to see. General store had lots of gifts. All of the staff had stories and good suggestions. Will go back there again. Don't forget to go up the hill to the cemetery.

StacieA335

Stopped by here last week after not having visited in years (Wyoming native). The buildings were very nicely redone and the staff friendly (there is a fee to get in). But the information signs in the buildings are tiny and in fading light, hard to read. They are for the most part no bigger than a post card. However, it's not a bad place to go if you just want a general picture of life in the Old West. The general store also rents pans to "try" for Gold in the river going through town. Later in August 2013, they will start tours of the near by Gold Mine, Carissa. I would highly recommend looking into that to suppliment your visit. (It wasn't open when I went last week but from the outside, the restoration of the mine complex looked great).If you have time, I'd recommend doing Atlantic City and the near by Miner's Delight (ask the clerk at the Atlantic City general store for directions). And if the weather is nice, take some sandwiches and enjoy a picnic!

Leon67203

There was a lot to see here, more than expected. I'm sorry to sat that we did not have enough time to see everything. I was not expecting so much so if you plan to go give yourself enough time. The people and state of Wyoming should be proud of the job they did here. Great ghost town filled with historical artifacts.

TimG638

The State of Wyoming has done a great job restoring this site to what it was so many years ago. It is amazing to see how the early settlers and gold miners lived and survived and the conditions under which they did so. I have been to this site many times through out my life and enjoy going back at every opportunity that I get. If you enjoy American History, this is a site you need to see...ladies your rights started in this quant town with Ester Hobart Morris. Check it out.

Book76

Very nice restoration of a small mining town. Very well furnished with antiques and the informative pamphlet helps as you walk through homes, school, general store, saloon, and more.

carlinda6665

This is an old mining town that has been restored for historical purposes. You can walk through the town and view the 19th century buildings. There is a self-guided tour and a museum in one building. Very good information is given about the history of the town. This is a great chance to view a 19th century western town. Drive through nearby Atlantic City which is pretty cool too. We bought candy at the general store in the historic site which was very good.

MayBeBack

Have been there many times. Most times there is something new to see. It gives an accurate idea of what life was like then. Very interesting.

MaryLouS34

Very simple quiet historical place. I was interesting to visit the general store to look at the packaging of goods that the pioneers had to chose from. The buildings were awesome and set up to look like the original pioneer days. I could almost feel the bustle of the crowd. You can also pan for gold in the creek if you have a hankerin....

562LizD562

Wonderful little village that was really used and worked and lived in up in the mountains. Great slice of frontier history, definitely worth the trip. I've visited twice and find out something new each time.

Crystal_LeFevre

Living in Southwest Wyoming, this is a staple of elementary school field trips. It is a great place where you can pan for gold, visit a working mercantile (my favorite was the old fashioned rock candy on a stick), go into the jail and close the bars on yourself, and wander though a whole ghost town that has been restored painstakingly room to room, house to house, business to business. It is a super fun way to spend a day with your family!