Shoshoni

In the summer of 1904, the Pioneer Townsite Company laid out the plat for Shoshoni. Shoshoni is an Indian word, which translates into "little snow".

The first business to be erected in the town was the Elkhorn Hotel, built in September 1905. In less than a year, the town had become a tent city and had grown in population to approximately 2,000.

Lack of building material in the very early days was a problem, since the railroad - Chicago and Northwestern - was 100 miles away, but the town gradually grew in size. Unfortunately, Shoshoni was devastated by fire in 1907 and 1908. During the reconstruction, brick buildings took the place of flammable wood.

Five miles north of Shoshoni, a little burg named Bonneville was constructed on the CB&Q Railroad, which had been extended along the Badwater Creek. The town was almost totally destroyed by the flooding of Badwater Creek in 1923. Twenty miles of railroad track, several rail cars and one motor car were never recovered from the flood. They remain buried deep in the sandy mud of Badwater Creek.

During its boom days Shoshoni boasted 23 saloons, two banks, two large mercantile establishments, several livery and feed stables, a lumber yard, drug store, two physicians, several lawyers, a newspaper and more lodging houses and restaurants than any town of equal size in the state of Wyoming.

Thirteen miles to the north is Copper Mountain. It is dotted with old abandoned mines and prospector diggings. Copper was the most abundant, but gold and silver were also found, along with chalcocite, malachite, axurite, cuprite,lepidolite, chryscolla, calcopryritre, dolomite, feldspar, garnet, magnesium, tungsten, volcanic ash and pumic. Uranium can also be found on Copper Mountain. The area offers a gold mine for the rockhound in petrified wood, agate, tourmaline, and quartz. Some mercury has been found near Bonneville.

Shoshoni hosts the Flywheelers Antique Engine and Tractor Show in June and a Labor Day Rodeo.  The Shoshoni City Park offers overnight camping and includes water, fireplaces and restroom facilities. Shoshoni motels are modern and reasonable. Restaurants, gas stations and convenience stores are available here also, not to mention malts and shakes at their world famous drugstore.

Shoshoni City Hall
202 Idaho Street,
Shoshoni WY 82649
307-876-2515

Shoshoni Chamber of Commerce
307-876-2777

Boysen State Park
307-876-2796
http://wyoparks.state.wy.us/BOslide.htm