American West: Then & Now
The successes in preserving our American West landmarks.
By: Mark Boardman 06/01/2009
Hanley Farm
(Central Point, OR)
1857
Michael Hanley buys a 39-acre farm and builds a house on the property. For about 100 years of its history, the farm is owned and operated primarily by women in the Hanley family.
2009
The Hanley Farm is owned and operated by the Southern Oregon Historical Society. It includes the original house, barns, gardens, exhibits of farm equipment and the sale of heritage plants and produce.
– Courtesy Southern Oregon Historical Society –
Furnace Creek Inn & Ranch Resort
(Death Valley, CA)
1927
Furnace Creek Inn, a Spanish mission-style resort, is opened by the owners of Pacific Coast Borax Company, famous for its 20 Mule Team Borax soap. In the 1880s, mule teams did carry borax out of Death Valley.
2009
Current inn owner Xanterra Parks & Resorts has built a solar power facility that will produce about one-third of the electricity needed at Furnace Creek. This will help preserve the unique Death Valley environment that still draws visitors to the area.
– Courtesy Xanterra Parks & Resorts –
Wyoming Territorial Prison
(Laramie, WY)
1873
Doors to the territorial prison are opened wide for hardcase residents, who will include outlaw Butch Cassidy and some of his Wild Bunch buddies over the next 30 years.
2009
Named a State Historic Site five years ago, the prison is a museum featuring 10 heritage buildings (seven of which are original), artifacts and exhibits. Visitors are allowed to come and go as they please.
– Courtesy Teresa Sherwood / Wyoming Territorial Prison –
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