Archaeology
Archaeological survey work done at the park in August, 2011.
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Civil War era bullet
A Civil War era bullet found during archaeological excavations at the New Fork Park in 2011. More archaeological survey work still needs to be completed before the park will be opened to the public.
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New Fork River Crossing Historical Park
The park is located where the Lander Trail, part of the Oregon Trail, crossed the New Fork River. Thousands of emigrants crossed through what is now Sublette County in the mid-1800s. Photo courtesy Sublette County Historical Society.
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Cooperators
The 82-acre property was purchased as a result of an agreement with Shell, Ultra, Rocky Mountain Power and the Bureau of Land Management for historical and cultural resources impacts to the Lander Trail due to natural gas energy development on federal land in the Pinedale Anticline.
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Volunteers needed for New Fork Lander Trail park archaeology
Second season of archaeological surveys at the new park site
September 19, 2012
The Sublette County Historical Society is inviting interested persons to come help with archaeology at the new Lander Trail New Fork River Crossing Historical Park the week of September 22 through 28th. The new 82-acre park is still under development and is not yet open to the public.
Archaeologists Ken & Molly Cannon (USU Archaeological Services, from Logan, Utah) will be back leading archaeology work on this latest round of archaeology on the site. Volunteers are welcome Saturday-Friday (September 22-28) to help with metal detecting in new areas, and excavating squares where anomalies were found with geophysical tests last year. Based on what was found last year, we should find some pretty cool emigrant artifacts.
Work will start at 8 am each morning, but volunteers are welcome whenever they can come. Free lunch and water will be provided each day, but volunteers should bring their own lunch and snacks if they have special dietary needs or tastes.
The New Fork Park is located at 1371 Paradise Road about 1 mile north of Hwy 351 on Paradise Road.
Directions from Pinedale: Take US 191 south to Hwy 351, turn onto Hwy 351 at Sand Draw and drive west until you cross the New Fork River, about 11 miles. Take the next right, Paradise Road, and go about 1 mile. Turn right at the first green gate marked 1371. Follow the dirt road across the canal and down to the small cabin, or park above the canal, cross the footbridge and walk down to the cabin. Most of the archeology will be on the old island a couple hundred yards south of the cabin. If you get lost or need better directions, call 307-360-7689.
Directions from Big Piney: From US 189, turn east on Hwy 351 at the Sublette County Fairgrounds. Drive approximately 11 miles until you get to Paradise Road. If you cross over the New Fork River bridge, you’ve gone too far and need to turn around and cross back over the New Fork River about ˝ mile and take Paradise road on your right. Turn north on Paradise Road and go about 1 mile. Turn right at the first green gate marked 1371. Follow the dirt road across the canal and down to the small cabin, or park above the canal, cross the footbridge and walk down to the cabin. Most of the archeology will be on the old island a couple hundred yards south of the cabin. If you get lost or need better directions, call 307-360-7689.
This archaeological survey project is being sponsored by the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund.
The Historical Society hopes to have the park ready to open to the public in 2013. They are currently continuing site archaeological surveys, working with the National Park Service on trail location and interpretive signs, upgrading the site facilities for public use and access, and fundraising. Interested volunteers are welcome and encouraged.
For more information, contact the Museum of the Mountain Man in Pinedale, 307-367-4101, Clint Gilchrist/Sublette County Historical Society, 307-367-6763 (Office Outlet, ask for Clint), or Dawn Ballou, Upper Green River Basin Chapter Wyoming Archaeological Society, 307-360-7689, or email dawn@pinedaleonline.com.
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