Visitors are attracted to Weston County for its wide open spaces. Here, you can relax and revive away from the crowds. You can explore and enjoy nature without the constant rumble of tourist traffic. Hike in the hills, and roam on the prairie. Beyond all its natural beauty and outdoor fun, Weston County boasts a rich history to discover.

Literally millions of years of history… and millions of acres

110 million years ago, all 1.5 million acres of Weston County rested under the Western Interior Sea seaway. This shallow sea thrived with ancient marine life of the late Cretaceous, including ichthyosaurs (imagine the size of a blue whale, then think bigger) and long-necked plesiosaurs. Pretty impressive. Only several million years earlier, though, a dune-covered desert covered the region, populated by the beasts of the Jurassic—yes, that Jurassic. In fact, the triceratops reigns as the Wyoming state fossil.

Today, you can witness Weston County’s geological history on full display. Enjoy astonishing views of steep canyons and stony ridges of the Black Hills. Wonder at the vistas of rolling foothills and prairie grasslands. And behold the iconic red earth buttes and plateaus, such as Weston County’s most famous landmark, the Red Butte.

For Weston County’s paleohistory, you may need to do some looking. You’ll likely encounter common fossils, like shark teeth and mollusks, with minimal effort. Bigger fossils are out there, but may take patience and skill to find, not to mention lots of luck. If you go looking, be smart about it. Educate yourself on state and local rules, get permission where needed, and always respect nature.

Recent human history… 12,000 years ago

Evidence suggests people inhabited the greater Wyoming region as early as 12,000 years ago. The earliest residents of Weston County were Indigenous Peoples: Kiowa, Crow, Cheyenne, and Lakota tribes. Centuries before non-indigenous visitors arrived in the middle to late 1700s, Native Americans lived and thrived here. And Native American culture remains an essential part of the state’s makeup.

There’s gold in them hills… Never mind, it’s coal!

Rumors of gold in the Black Hills began circulating in the middle 1800s. When the United States fell into a depression in 1873, the desperate search for gold ignited. The U.S. Government tried to keep would-be fortune-seekers out of the Black Hills; after all, by treaty, Native American tribes held those sacred lands. However, the economic opportunities proved too enticing, and by 1874, the Government mounted its own expedition. Under General George Custer’s leadership, the expedition discovered gold in the Black Hills in July 1874. A gold rush ensued, attracting scores of miners and merchants. Eventually, for most folks, the boom went bust. Prospecting gave way to homesteading.

Along Cambria Creek in Weston County, two families homesteading together, Fuller and Valentine, discovered a streak of coal in a canyon wall. At the time, the Burlington Railroad expanded from Nebraska, with the route running directly through the area. The railroad purchased the land from Fuller and Valentine. Coal mining began in 1888. The coal mining camp of Cambria prospered for the next forty years before tapping out. Today, Cambria is a ghost town engulfed by the beauty of nature.

Newcastle and Upton

The town of Newcastle started around the same time as Cambria, where the railroad spur to Cambria met the mainline track. The city was named Newcastle after the coal mining center in England. Where Cambria eventually faded, Newcastle flourished, thanks to other mineral resources, such as oil and bentonite.

While Newcastle was established as a hub for Cambria, Upton began in the mid-1880s. Known as Irontown then, the settlement attracted cowboys, ranchers, and newly arriving homesteaders to get much-needed supplies. Soon, sheep ranching took hold. After the railroad from Newcastle reached Irontown, it became known as Merino. It was later renamed Upton after a surveyor for the railroad. Upton also benefited from the oil and mineral industries and ranching.

You can visit many sites and markers to learn more about Weston County’s history. In Newcastle, the Anna Miller Museum features an impressive collection of pioneer artifacts and much more. In Upton, the Red Onion Museum depicts life for the early settlers. Nearby, at the site of the original Irontown, history comes to life as you stroll through the many pioneer buildings in Old Town. Great photo ops abound!

Whether visiting Weston County to escape the crowds or to play in the wide open, you will also find plenty of history and heritage. Plan your stay today!