Oxford Horse Barn, barn near Laramie, Wyoming
The Oxford Horse Barn is a large log structure built in 1887 near Laramie, Wyoming, standing on a sandstone foundation. The building measures approximately 159 feet long by 50 feet wide, features large sliding doors at both ends with original hardware, and has a distinctive earth ramp at the back for wagon access to the hayloft.
The original Oxford horse ranch was established in the 1870s by Pete Johnson and later acquired by Scottish entrepreneurs who expanded it into a major breeding operation. The barn was built in 1887 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 to recognize its importance to early western ranching history.
The barn was a center for horse culture, attracting people interested in racing and breeding. Scottish immigrants like Arthur Stokes brought European traditions and built an operation that held thousands of horses at its peak.
The building is easily accessible and visitors can explore the exterior and view the rustic log construction up close from multiple angles. The flat open land surrounding it provides good sightlines for understanding the full structure and its relationship to the Wyoming landscape.
Local ranch manager Axel Palmer creatively used the barn's hayloft as an obstacle course to train horse teams, an unusual training method for preparing animals to work together. This practical innovation shows how workers inventively used the space to develop their herds' abilities.
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