Centennial Valley is a downfold (syncline) in the earth's crust lying between Sheep Mountain on the east and Centennial ridge on the west. The surface of the land is scattered with boulders brought down from the mountains above by glacial drift. The first explorers in North America eventually threaded their way down the Laramie Valley leaving their Folsom points beside camps in Willow Springs. If they visited the Centennial Valley, they left no sign of their stay. Later, American Indians came into the valley to hunt, get bow wood from the mountains and to fish. They left teepee rings, flint chips and buffalo bones mainly at the sites of their hunting camps.

When the westward movement began, covered wagons wound their way across the High Plains and within sight of Centennial Valley. These pioneers made hunting excursions into the valley but apparently were not tempted enough to stay. This area was Dakota Territory and was merely a place to go through on your way to somewhere else. In 1863, Tom Alsop, foreman of a string of bull cattle teams which ran from Omaha to Deadwood and Salt Lake, was caught in a snowstorm on Sherman Hill in December.

Fearing imminent death, he turned the oxen loose to fend for themselves while he and his men struggled on horseback to get to Omaha. He returned in the Spring to salvage what he could of the wagon train and was amazed to find sleek, healthy oxen grazing in the valley where he only expected to find bleached bones. The word soon spread that cattle could survive well in Wyoming and the area ceased to be just a passage to somewhere else.

At about the same time in far away Washington, D.C., the Congress of the United States passed two acts which would affect the future of Centennial Valley profoundly. In 1862. Congress passed the Five Year Homestead Act. This act granted the settler title to 160 acres for his or her own if he or she would live on the land for five years, improve it and build a suitable home. In 1864, the Pacific Railway Act was adopted by Congress. This act subsidized the construction of a transcontinental railroad and brought civilization to the Laramie Plains. Laramie City, 30 miles east of Centennial Valley, was plotted on land owned by the Union Pacific Railroad Company in the winter and early spring of 1867.

In the late 1860's, the Brown brothers, George and Josh, took up a homestead at the northern end of the valley along the Little Laramie River. They built a cabin and ran cattle on their ranch. Just down the valley, Charles Bussard set up a camp for timber operations and contracted with the Union Pacific Railroad for cutting railroad ties. More and more people began moving to the area and Laramie City went from zero population to over 5,000 in just three short months as it became a "rails end" for the Union Pacific Railroad. Soon however, as the rails moved westward, Laramie's population dropped to a mere 500 people. Woodcutters and hunters crossed Laramie Plains to the Centennial Valley and cast covetous eyes on the green summer meadows in the valley. Then something happened that made many forget the dream of land ownership. This occurrence was described in the Centennial Post newspaper:

"In the year 1876, some hunters were crossing near the base of what is now known as Centennial Mountain. Becoming weary after half a day's tramp, they sat down upon one of the large boulders to rest. While sitting there and feasting their eyes upon the grand panoramic view that lay before them, they caught sight of sparkling in the rocks scattered about them that caused them to doubt their very eyes. Could it possibly be gold? They were not sure.

Untutored in the science of prospecting, and unfamiliar with the precious metal in its native state, they sought the opinion and advice of their friend, a Colonel Downey, in Laramie City.

Test were made and it was pronounced to be gold, pure gold. The following day a party of eager and excited men hurried to the spot as fast as teams could carry them and had no trouble locating their great find.

The rich vein was actually cropping out of the ground in huge masses and the precious golden float was to be seen scattered about in great abundance. The ground was immediately staked and recorded as the Centennial Mine. A company was organized and then the news was given to the world. The story of the new find with its great riches spread like a wildfire. Many of the rich specimens had been shown to friends and soon there was a rush of all classes of men to the new Golconda. Business men as well as laborers joined in the wild stampede. Physicians left their patients; mechanics threw down their tools, officials closed their offices; all caught the fever of the excitement and soon the new camp was filled with a turbulent throng of fortune seekers, all had turned prospectors.

The surrounding country was staked for miles in every direction. Many new finds were reported daily, and while some gave promise of equaling the now famous Centennial Mine, none were sufficiently developed to surpass the latter in its golden splendor. Soon the camp began to assume a normal condition. In a few instances conservative men took hold of the development of some of the most promising claims, a number of which yielded considerable gold and copper, and the Centennial Mine was soon a steady producer. In less than two years, under not the best of management, it had yielded a clear profit of some $80,000 in gold."


Since the gold discovery was made in 1875, a year in which plans were being made for the coming Centennial year in America, the mine (and now valley and town) were named in honor of the 100 year celebration of America. Fortunes made and fortunes lost - that was the story of the early years of Centennial. And that's the short story on how this area was discovered and what lead to its development. As the gold vein played out, the population declined from a high of around 5,000 to the 100 or so that live here today.

But, the suspense remains. Miners swore that the "Lost Vein of Centennial" existed and tons more of gold was yet to be found. To this date it has never been found. Maybe you will be the one who discovers gold again in these parts. Who knows what lies about the streams and the mountains placed before you. So when you are hiking or backpacking or exploring the Snowy Range Mountains from your cozy Old Corral Hotel and Steak House base camp, be looking. Gold could be right at your fingertips - literally. Even today, active gold mining claims are still being staked!