Rainsford Historic District

Rainsford Historic District is a Victorian residential neighborhood in Cheyenne with tree-lined streets and houses featuring consistent setbacks and continuous vegetation throughout. It spans multiple blocks with an original street grid designed by a Union Pacific surveyor.

The area was founded in the 1880s when wealthy cattle entrepreneurs built grand residences, earning it the informal name Cattle Baron Row. This development reflects the economic prosperity that came from ranching in the region.

The district displays a mix of architectural styles from the Victorian era, including Stick, Italianate, and Romanesque designs that reflect the building practices and aesthetic preferences of the wealthy residents of that period.

Walking is the best way to experience the street layout and the architecture of the homes. The terrain is flat and accessible, with a clear layout that makes navigation straightforward.

George Rainsford, an architect from New York who became a Wyoming rancher, designed multiple houses in the district with distinctive roof shapes and ornamental windows. His designs stand out from other homes in the neighborhood and show the creativity of a man who led two completely different lives.