Skip to main content

Woodrock Sawmill Interpretive Site

Woodrock Sawmill Interpretive Site is one of many interpretive sites on the forest.

Woodrock Sawmill – 1905

Three logging firms: Starbird & Hall, J.H. McShane, and the Big Horn Timber Company supplies ties and bridge timber for the Burlington Railroad from 1894 to 1909.  They built at least five major sawmills in the mountains with additional camps for their loggers and tiehackers.  In addition to railroad contracts they supplies props and timbers for the mines of the first Sheridan Coal Boom.

Here we see tiehackers stripping logs for railroad ties.  These men received from 3 to 5 cents per finished tie, averaging around $2.50 to $3.00 per day.  In their time, only coal miners and skilled construction men earned better wages. 

After 1900, increasing quantities of these ties were machine cut, for the mills could turn out superior ties for only 3/8th of the cent each.

General Information

weather dependent

Image of an office sign and building

Address: 2013 Eastside 2nd Street Sheridan, WY 82801
Phone: (307) 674-2600
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Closed on federal holidays)
Office Email: SM.FS.bighorninfo@usda.gov

Getting There

Latitude / Longitude

Latitude: 44.68409188

Longitude: -107.44881934

Elevation

8,450 feet

Directions

From Dayton, take Hwy 14 west for about 40.2 miles to Forest System Road (FSR) 26. Turn left onto FSR 26 and go another 5 miles. Turn onto FSR 231 and then FSR 227.

Facility and Amenity Information

Restrooms

Restrooms are not available at this site.

no

Recreation Opportunities

Last updated March 27th, 2025