Buford and the Ames Monument

Buford is located on Interstate 80 between Cheyenne and Laramie. The town’s railroad history can be traced at the Ames Monument and in the remains of earlier railroad operations. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing the current road from the historic railroad route: both tell the story of different stages in Buford’s development.

Buford as a Railroad Town

Buford was one of the railroad towns established in 1866 during the “Hell on Wheels” era. When the Union Pacific entered Albany County, it set up a station here. Buford was originally located along the railroad lines on the approach to Sherman Hill Summit. The town’s founding and its station thus connect it directly to the Union Pacific’s expansion through this section. After the railroad moved on, Buford’s population fell sharply. This sequence encompasses more than the establishment of a railroad station: it also tells how the town changed after the railroad moved on.

The Ames Monument and Its History

The Ames Monument was erected in 1881 in honor of Oliver and Oakes Ames. Both held influential leadership roles in the construction of the transcontinental railroad. Architect Henry Hobson Richardson designed the 60-foot-high, pyramid-shaped granite monument. Dedication, railroad history, and design come together here: the honorees represent their role in building the railroad, while the monument’s shape and material define its architecture. In July 2017, the Ames Monument was designated a National Historic Landmark. The year it was built and the year it received this designation thus mark two different stages in its history.

Remains of Railroad Operations and Routes

On the hill at the foot of the Ames Monument are the foundations of a roundhouse, a turntable, a second railroad station, and a water tank. Together, these remains point to different parts of earlier railroad operations: buildings, a turntable, another station, and a tank. The area around the Buford stop was also once a quarry that supplied much of the Union Pacific with “Sherman Granite.” The railroad’s former supply network is therefore another part of this site’s history.

The railroad embankment at the Buford stop is part of the original Union Pacific rail line. The modern Union Pacific main line runs 600 feet south of the stop. East of Buford, the tracks have some of the steepest grades on the Union Pacific, at 1.58 percent. The original line, the modern main line, and the grade east of town are distinct aspects of railroad history that can be considered separately when understanding Buford.

The present-day road also follows a historic route here: between the Buford stop and the next exit, the interstate runs directly along the original Union Pacific route. A gravel road leads partway to the Ames Monument from I-80; take this road surface into account when planning your drive.

Discover more destinations: Laramie.

Return to the main travel overview: Albany.