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The first two turbines of the nine that have been put up for the town of Medicine Bow are up and running.

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Latest Water Quality Report Available.

 

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Visitors/Hunters

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History of the UP Railroad

The Cheyenne and Arapaho used this area for hunting. The Native Americans named the river flowing through the area "Medicine Bow." It refers to a tradition of being able to find tough springy sage shrub called Buffalo Berry for making their hunting bows with. Anything that was good for a purpose was referred to as good medicine and the bows were called "Medicine Bows," hence the name given to the River and later the Town. Since the headwaters of the river originated in the mountains to the South, they are called the Medicine Bow Mountains.

1868 - Around August 1st, the Railroad came through what is now Medicine Bow. A pump station was established on the river. A store and saloon were the beginnings of Medicine Bow. With the railroad came a five (5) stable roundhouse, service facilities, and water tank for the locomotives.

1869 - Medicine Bow became a central supply point in the area. The railroad served the Medicine Bow freight industry, bringing supplies from the East. The supplies originally came. from Camp Carlin, near Cheyenne, but Medicine Bow was a closer railhead. From here supplies were put on freight wagons bound for Army Stockades, such as Ft. Fetterman, 90 miles North of Medicine Bow, and other parts of the Powder River Country.

Cavalry - As many as 75 soldiers garrisoned in the Town of Medicine Bow, protecting it from roving bands of Indians, who were reluctant to leave their hunting grounds which were considered an area of Good Medicine by them.

Westward expansion, which had previously taken place in wagons along the Oregon Trail, transferred gradually to travel by rail. Many families traveled in specially fitted box cars, called "Immigrant Cars". It was a very uncomfortable way to travel.

1870-- Census taken the month of June listed 35 civilians, 65 soldiers, no stockmen or cowboys, and most civilians were connected with the Railroad. June 25, 1870, the same month the Census was taken, the Medicine Bow Station was attacked. The Cavalry, Company 1, 2nd Cavalry, turned back the attack.

Ranching - During the 1870's ranching came to the vicinity of Medicine Bow. Stockyards were built to contain cattle being shipped East. In the late 1870's and early 1880's, 2,000 cattle a day were being shipped from Medicine Bow. The cattle were being brought to Medicine Bow for shipping from as far away as Idaho & Montana.

1876 - The first elementary school was established in Medicine Bow.

1880 - The census taken that year listed 54 people in Medicine Bow, 15 of which were directly employed by the Railroad, e.g., engineers, section foremen, and laborers.

1885 - Owen Wister arrived in Medicine Bow.

 

Train plowing snow 1887


1890 - The Census that year showed 105 people in Medicine Bow, a majority of which were in Railroad related occupations. Medicine Bow was still a large shipping center for cattle. Sheep were introduced into the area and shearing pens were constructed.

1900 - 1,000 tons of wool per year was being shipped from Medicine Bow. The census showed 236 people in Medicine Bow who were employed in predominantly railroad related occupations.

1901 - U.P. Railroad relocated to present location, causing the abandonment of Rock Creek Station and Old Carbon.

1909 - Railroad transferred ownership of the Town of Medicine Bow, which was then incorporated. Construction began on the Virginian hotel under the direction of the owner and first Mayor, August Grimm, and his partner.

1913 - First U.P. Depot built in 1901 burned July 24. On November 23, 1913, the present Depot was completed. The "Transcontinental Lincoln Highway" was completed, bringing a new industry to Medicine Bow, tourism.

Late 1930's & Early 1940's - Passenger Train service was slowly discontinued.

1954 - U.P. tracks were widened and the curves straightened. The Depot was moved back from the tracks to its present location. The Railroads switched from coal to diesel engines which caused coal mining in the area to practically cease.

1960's & 1970's - Interstate 80 was opened, diverting tourism from the Lincoln Highway. In the late 1970's, demand for low sulfur coal made mining an important industry in the area again. The Census taken in 1970 showed there were 455 people in Medicine Bow.

1980 - Census taken in 1980 showed 953 people because of the boom. However, in early 1980, the demand for low sulfur slacked off due to Federal Emission restrictions being lifted on industry in the East. The mining industry in the area went bust!

1981 - Depot was closed.

1982 - Depot was given to the Town of Medicine Bow by the U.P. Railroad.

1983 - March 28 - Museum was opened by the Town of Medicine Bow.

1990 - Census taken for 1990 showed about 380 people, a difference of almost 600 people.