Menor's Ferry Historic District
Moose, Grand Teton National Park, WY
Moose, WY
A preserved 1890s homestead and reconstructed river ferry at Moose, where the idea of Grand Teton National Park took shape.
Menor's Ferry Historic District preserves one of the earliest settlement sites in Jackson Hole, a homestead and river crossing built in the 1890s on the banks of the Snake River at Moose. Before any bridge spanned the river here, Bill Menor operated a cable ferry that carried wagons, stock, and travelers across the water, making him a central figure in the small, isolated community that was taking root in the valley beneath the Tetons.
The district gathers together the reconstructed ferry, Menor's cabin and general store, and other early buildings, along with the nearby log chapel that frames the mountains through its altar window. It is also remembered as the setting for a pivotal gathering in the 1920s, when local residents and visitors met in a cabin here to discuss protecting the valley, a conversation that helped set in motion the creation of Grand Teton National Park.
What Guests Love
- The reconstructed cable ferry that once carried wagons across the Snake
- Bill Menor's restored homestead cabin and general store
- The rustic log Chapel of the Transfiguration nearby, with its window framing the Tetons
- The quiet, shaded river setting away from the busier park stops
Worth Knowing
- The site is a short, easy walk from a parking area near Moose and is free to visit with park entry
- The buildings are open seasonally, while the grounds can be walked much of the year
- The nearby chapel is an active place of worship, so be respectful during services
- This is bear country, so follow park guidance on food and wildlife
Details
Moose, WY
Learn about Menor's Ferry Historic District
Bill Menor's ferry
In the 1890s Bill Menor homesteaded on the west bank of the Snake River at Moose and built a ferry to cross it. His was a cable ferry, a flat craft guided by an overhead line and driven by the force of the current itself, able to carry wagons, animals, and people across a river that was otherwise a serious barrier in a valley with no bridges.
For the scattered settlers of early Jackson Hole, the ferry was a vital link between the two sides of the river. A reconstruction of the ferry stands at the site today, giving visitors a sense of how travelers and their wagons once made the crossing beneath the Tetons.
The homestead and store
Alongside the ferry, Menor built a cabin and a general store that served the surrounding community. In a remote valley far from towns, a store like his was an important gathering point, a place to buy supplies, trade news, and connect with neighbors spread across the countryside.
The restored buildings preserve the look and feel of that early homestead, with the simple log construction and hard won self sufficiency of frontier life in the high valley. Walking among them gives a sense of what daily life required of the first families to settle here.
Where a park idea took shape
In the 1920s a meeting took place at a cabin in this area that would prove important to the future of the whole valley. Local residents, joined by others concerned for the future of Jackson Hole, gathered to talk about protecting the valley and its mountain backdrop from unchecked development.
That conversation was one of the early sparks in the long effort that eventually led to the creation and expansion of Grand Teton National Park. Standing at the site today, it is striking to realize that the protection of one of the country's most beloved landscapes was discussed in a modest cabin by the river.
The Chapel of the Transfiguration
A short walk from the ferry stands the Chapel of the Transfiguration, a small log church built in the 1920s to serve the ranchers, settlers, and visitors of the valley. Its most famous feature is the window behind the altar, which frames the peaks of the Teton Range as a living backdrop to the simple wooden interior.
The chapel is still an active place of worship, and its rustic beauty and mountain view make it one of the most photographed small churches in the West. Together with the ferry and homestead, it completes a compact historic district that tells the story of the people who first made their homes beneath the Tetons.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Moose
Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center
A short walk away at Moose
The park's main southern visitor center, with exhibits on the geology, wildlife, and human history of the Tetons.
Jenny Lake
About 8 miles north
A clear glacial lake at the foot of the highest Teton peaks, with a shuttle boat and trails into Cascade Canyon.
Mormon Row Historic District
About 6 miles northeast
A cluster of weathered homestead barns on the valley floor, framed by the Teton Range, among the most photographed sights in the park.