Archaeology and History

Colby Mammoth Site

While digging a new reservoir in 1962 Don Colby made one to the most important archeological finds of its time, a Clovis spear point. In 1973 the first of many scientific excavations began to take place. Over the next five years, parts of seven mammoths, the bones of camel, bison, pronghorn, jackrabbit, horse and musk-ox. Dating back 14000 years makes the Colby site one of the oldest proofs of man using weapons to hunt larger animals. N44*01.26 W107*52.01

Big Cedar Ridge Plant Fossil Area

Take Home a piece of history, you found yourself, abundant with plant fossils from 72 million years ago and located on public lands, Big Cedar Ridge lets the young or old archeology enthusiast collect and keep plant and invertebrates (animals with no backbone) fossils using only light hand tools or just pick them off the ground. Then do your part by reporting your finds to the local BLM office to help scientists. Find your way there by traveling east from Worland or West from Ten Sleep to Blue Bank Road, head south fifteen miles to Big Cedar Ridge. N43*50.30 W107*32.10

1st Church in the Basin

March 14, 1901 Rev. L.C. Thompson, Rev. E.E. Tarbill, Mortimer Lewis, J.W. Carpenter, Kate Lynch and Mark Warner signed papers incorporating the Methodist Church of Ten Sleep and accepted land from David Moses. The community raised $600, supplementing $300 given by Extension Society of Philadelphia. The building started in 1901 by volunteer labor with lumber donated by Milo Burke, was completed in 1904 and dedicated January 8, 1905. Each assisting family was given a lot in the cemetery, where many pioneers rest. The church was moved to a location near the Ten Sleep Rodeo Grounds in 1925 where it remained until 1975 when it was moved to Circle J Youth Camp in Ten Sleep Canyon. N44*04.24 W107*20.23

Moving Worland

Although Worland has been in its present location for over 100 years, it started on the other side of the river, west of its current location near ‘Dad’ Worland’s Dugout. Dad Worland settled here just before 1900, building a dugout he turned into a store and bar. When the Hanover Canal company arrived and decided to invest and build canals for agricultural use, naturally the settled around Camp Worland. As the railroad came along the Big Horn River, it came down the east side, opposite of the town. So during the winter of 1905 & 06 our forefathers moved the town. With thick ice, teams and ingenuity they move thirteen buildings over the river to start the community of Worland. The original site has returned to agricultural land for the most part, but we remember our beginnings. N44*00.45 W107*58.46