Cant, James, Ranch Historic District - Grant County, Oregon
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ddtfamily
N 44° 33.331 W 119° 38.714
11T E 289908 N 4936978
The James Cant Ranch Historic District, in Sheep Rock Unit of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
Waymark Code: WMF8AC
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 09/09/2012
Views: 7
"The James Cant Ranch has been a local landmark in the John Day River Valley of eastern Oregon since the construction of its imposing main house was completed circa 1918. Nestled below Sheep Rock along the John Day River." "The ranch is one of the most intact remaining examples of early 20th century ranching operations in the valley." (source: NRHP Nomination Form, 1984)
The historic district lies entirely within the Sheep Rock Unit of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. The ranch house/museum serves as the park headquarters.
The historic district includes the main house, barn, sheep-shearing stalls, watchman's hut, bunkhouse and several outbuildings.
The builder of the ranch, James Cant, Sr. was a Scottish immigrant who moved to the valley in 1905 as part of a wave of Scottish immigrants. Cant became one of the more prominent ranchers in the valley. In 1975. the National Park Service purchased the ranch from the Cant family, three years after the death of James Cant, Sr. Included in the purchase were a number of farming implements which are on display.