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Howdy %%FIRST:Partner%% TRAIL END’S CIRCLE OF LIGHT AND WARMTH 
Such were the words of Rosa-Maye Kendrick, written upon her return to her family’s home – Trail End – following a 1926 driving tour through western Wyoming. Like countless people before and after, Rosa-Maye was welcomed by the mansion’s broad porches and balconies, rich oak and mahogany interiors, and comfortable furnishings. Since its completion in 1913, Trail End’s warmth has greeted thousands of visitors, from family and friends to school children and international tourists. Built by cowboy-turned-politician John B. Kendrick, Trail End displays an elegantly different aspect of both Wyoming’s colorful ranching history and Sheridan’s rich western heritage. For modern day visitors, Trail End offers a cool and restful break from driving and shopping. Designed by Billings, Montana, architect Glenn Charles McAlister, Trail End was intended to serve as both the Kendrick family residence and as a symbol of the family=s success. Starting out as a penniless, ill-educated orphan in rural Texas, John Kendrick had gone to work as a cowboy, prospered into one of the wealthiest cattlemen in the state, and attained political success as both governor of Wyoming and United States Senator.
In 1891, John Kendrick married 18-year-old Eula Wulfjen. Her genteel upbringing and finishing school polish, combined with years spent on the Wulfjen family ranches in Texas, Colorado and Wyoming, made Eula the perfect mate for a hard-working, goal-oriented cowboy like John. After living and working on their isolated ranch for eighteen years, John and Eula began construction on their new home in Sheridan in 1908. Five years later, “Trail End” was complete and the family – John, Eula, and their teenaged children Rosa-Maye and Manville – moved in. With its electricity, running water, intercoms, dumbwaiters and even a stationary central vacuum cleaning system, Trail End was quite a change from the log cabin and kerosene lamp lifestyle the family had known up to that point. Built on a hill offering the very best view of the nearby Bighorn Mountains, the 13,000 square foot Flemish Revival mansion is surrounded by nearly four acres of groomed grounds, gardens and orchards. Over one hundred trees and shrubs dot the landscape, ranging from native Juniper and Blue Spruce to exotic Southern Catalpa and Norwegian Maple. A grass tennis court graces the northwest corner of the grounds while a sunken rose garden adds charm to the southern expanse. Inside, Trail End is fully furnished in such a way that visitors are immediately struck by the home’s combined sense of historical accuracy and family intimacy. From the massive sideboard and table in the formal dining room to the checker board and game pieces in the drawing room, nearly everything that meets the visitor’s eye is original to the home. In the drawing room, for example, Manville’s checkers and checkerboard sit on a cherry wood game table; Rosa-Maye’s correspondence is scattered about the original mahogany desk; Eula’s sterling silver tea service sits on the tea table, along with pieces of her Minton Rose china; John’s magazines lay on an easy chair, awaiting perusal. Displays are designed to look as if a family member had just left the room. In the master bedroom, evening clothes are laid out on the bed, all ready to be put on before heading out for a night on the town; cut flowers and a vase sit by the kitchen sink, ready to be trimmed and arranged; material and patterns are scattered about the maid’s bed, ready to be turned into a new summer frock on the nearby treadle sewing machine. 
Today, Trail End is managed by the State Parks and Historic Sites Division of the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, Wyoming’s primary source for Arts, Parks, History and Trails. The site is located at 400 Clarendon Avenue, adjacent to both Kendrick Park and Sheridan Junior High School. Easiest access from Interstate 90 is via Fifth Street (exit 23). The mansion is open to the public daily, seven days a week. June, July and August hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. From March through May and September through mid-December, the facility is open from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. daily. Admission is $2.00 for adults, with children seventeen and under admitted free when accompanied by an adult.
A visit to the Trail End State Historic Site takes about an hour. Those riding the Sheridan Trolley can get off at the Trail End trolley stop, tour the museum, then get back on to continue their journey through Sheridan. An elevator and handicapped access ramp are available for those who might experience difficulty with four flights of stairs. For more information about Trail End, please phone 307-674-4589, or visit our site for additional information and a link to their comprehensive website.
Penny L. Becker, Executive Director For lodging accommodations: www.sheridanwyoming.org/lodging |
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