[10] This marked the beginning of increased conflicts between the Shoshone tribe and white settlers, who were illegally encroaching on reservation lands.

Additionally, it became evident to the U.S. Government that much of the land east of the Wind River Mountains, considered desirable, was located within the reservation.

These negotiations took place at Camp Stambaugh during the summer of 1872 and culminated in the Shoshone's agreement to cede the southern part of their reservation.

[10] The year 1873 saw The Jones Expedition explore the area around what would become the town of Lander, establishing a route to Yellowstone National Park.

This exploration resulted in extensive documentation of natural features, including hot springs, oil reserves, and hieroglyphs.

[11] Notably, the Dallas Dome area, situated several miles southeast of the future town-site near today's U.S. Route 287, was identified as the site of Wyoming's first oil well, completed in 1883.

[13] On October 1, 1906, Lander became the westward terminus of the "Cowboy Line" of the Chicago and North Western Railway, thus originating the slogan "where rails end and trails begin."

Originally intended to be a transcontinental mainline to Coos Bay, Oregon, or Eureka, California, the line never went further west, and service to Lander was abandoned in 1972.

[15] At the turn of the century the town and surrounding valley were promising places for agricultural development due to the area's climate and potential for irrigation.

[16] At the time there were several new ventures around the town producing wool, wheat, oats, alfalfa, hay, vegetables, small fruit and in some cases orchards.

[17] Lander continues to evolve and faces similar issues as many small towns in the Western U.S. Education and outdoor recreation play a large role in the town's economy with the Wyoming Catholic College and National Outdoor Leadership School both based in Lander.

Though agriculture and resource extraction no longer play a large role in the town's economy, its population has continued to grow since the year 2000.

[21] Elk migrate out of the Wind River Mountains into the lowlands near Lander, arriving in early winter and frequently staying at least through calving season in the spring.

[28] Present day Lander is home to numerous state and federal government offices, including the U.S. Forest Service (Washakie Ranger District, Shoshone National Forest),[29] the Bureau of Land Management (Lander Field Office),[30] the U.S.

In the early 1990s, the St. Louis based chamber-pop band, Lydia's Trumpet, recorded their song, "Lander" on the cassette release entitled: Valentine Waffle.

[41] Outdoor attractions near Lander include Sinks Canyon State Park, Worthen Meadow Reservoir, Shoshone National Forest, the Wind River Mountains, and the Red Desert.

It was designed to give students a general liberal arts education via a Great Books curriculum, while allowing them to develop morally and spiritually in a small Catholic community.

It uses an Outdoor Adventure Program to take students into the nearby Wind River Mountains to teach leadership, decision-making skills, and to ignite their imaginations.

The college received its Apostolic Blessing in 2005 from Most Reverend David L. Ricken, DD, JCL, the Bishop of Cheyenne.

[45][46] The facility was operated by the Wyoming Board of Charities and Reform until that agency was dissolved as a result of a state constitutional amendment passed in November 1990.