Dayton was named in 1882 after
Joe Dayton Thorne, one of the founding fathers of the community. The town
has the distinction of electing the first female mayor in Wyoming, Susan
Wissler. In the early 1890's Dayton held Wyoming's first rodeo. Famous
artist, Hans Kleiber, known as the "Etcher Laureate of the Big
Horns" made Dayton his home. His studio cabin has been preserved and
relocated by the Dayton community to a Main Street location. Another main
street location, the Dayton Mercantile is a landmark to the romance of the
Frontier West. Pull up next to the hitching rail, step out onto the sidewalk
and suddenly you are a part of a by-gone era.
Picturesque Tongue River
Canyon holds the Tongue River. The river served as an integral part of the
flume and floating system used by early logging companies sending ties to
down river market destinations.
Located in Dayton's city park
is a fire watch tower erected in 1911. The tower, known as Dayton Bell
Tower, featured a warning bell to alert the community to fires. Later
stairs, phones, and windows were added allowing the tower to be used by the
Ground Observer Corp. of the US Air Force to spot aircrafts.
Other History of Interest: