To See and Do in and around Ranchester

Tongue River Valley Community Center
Located in the heart of Ranchester, with a second facility in nearby Dayton, this community center features a full-service fitness center, game room, and meeting rooms. The Center offers fitness and educational classes, as well as recreational opportunities and community events, for participants of all ages.

T-Rex Natural History Museum
This small paleontological museum features fossils, dinosaur dioramas, and a beautiful collection of minerals and crystals.

Connor Battlefield Historic Site
This historic site was the scene of an 1865 clash between U.S. troops and the Arapahoe Indians. The area features camping, fishing access, a groomed walking path, and a picnic area with a playground and public restrooms.

Sawyer Fight
A historical sign located on U.S. Highway 14 between Ranchester and Dayton gives an informative description of this clash between U.S. Troops and the Arapahoe. In the summer of 1865, an expedition commanded by Colonel James A. Sawyer pioneered a route linking Sioux City, Iowa to the gold fields of Montana via the Bozeman Trail. On August 31, the force of over a hundred men were attacked by Arapahoe Indians in the Tongue River Valley. The struggle continued for days until assistance arrived from General Connor’s Powder River Expedition Forces, allowing the would-be road builders to continue on to Virginia City, Montana.

Crook Campaign Battle Sites
The Crook Campaigns of 1876 were part of the best known military action against the Plains Indians in the 19th century, known as the Great Sioux War. All of the Crook Campaign sites in Sheridan County are either listed in or have been declared eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.