State Historic Site
Trail End
(TESHS)
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Transferring Trail End to State ownership, 1982 (WSA Collection, TESHS)
TRAIL END HAS had only three owners: the Kendrick family, the Sheridan County Historical Society, and the State of Wyoming. All have been respectful of the house and its environs, especially the state, which has done all needed repairs and restoration since gaining ownership in 1982. Even so, in the 100-plus years since John Kendrick first laid eyes on the site that is now Trail End, many changes have taken place. A balcony has been enclosed, paint colors have changed, trees have died and been replanted. Outside the grounds, neighborhoods have grown up on two sides while several schools have come and gone on another. Here's a quick timeline:
THE KENDRICK YEARS
1889 John Kendrick moves to Sheridan area
1895 John purchases property in Nielsen Heights for future home
1905 John donates land next to home site for use as city park
1908 Construction of Trail End begins on Nielsen Heights property
1909 Kendrick family moves to Sheridan Inn
1910 Family moves into Carriage House
1913 Family moves into Trail End in July
1914 Family hosts public open house on New Year's Day
1914 Most landscaping completed
1915 Family moves to Cheyenne while John serves as Governor of Wyoming
1917 Family moves to Washington, DC while John serves as Senator
1929 Manville and wife Diana move into Trail End
1934 Eula moves back to Trail End after John's death
1959 Eula moves to Texas to live with daughter Rosa-Maye
1960 Manville and Diana move out of Trail End
POST-KENDRICK YEARS
1968 Sheridan County Historical Society purchases house and grounds
1969 Trail End opens as community museum
1970 Trail End added to National Register of Historic Places
1979 Carriage House remodeled into community theater
1982 Trail End given to State of Wyoming
1985 Carriage House partially destroyed by fire; rebuilt
1986 Handicap access ramp, elevator and restrooms installed at Trail End
1988 Carriage House corral remodeled into courtyard
1995 Trail End's entire original electrical system replaced
2002 Replanting efforts begin on grounds
2005 Substantial restoration projects improve interior finishes
2013 Trail End celebrates 100th anniversary with a year-long series of events