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Sheridan Inn Hotel in Sheridan, WY
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lillian-franes-smith-room

The Lillian Frances Smith Room

Room 302

Lillian Frances Smith was born in 1871 in Coleville, California. At the age of seven, she became with dolls and asked her father for a “little rifle” instead. She performed in San Francisco at age 10, and soon her father offered a five thousand dollar wager that no one could beat her. Buffalo Bill Cody discovered her while touring in California, and she joined the Wild West in time for its summer 1886 run on Staten Island. The 15-year-old Smith became “the champion California huntress”.

Lillian-Smith-picSmith represented Annie Oakley’s first female rival. The two women were experts in different weapons – Oakley favored the shotgun, while Smith preferred the rifle. Smith’s personality propelled the relations between the two women rapidly towards demise. Miss Smith liked to brag and could be heard declaring “Annie Oakley was done for” now that Smith was part of Cody’s show. Smith spoke coarsely and wore flashy clothing, both qualities repulsive to the more conservative Oakley. In addition these other shortcomings in Oakley’s eyes, Smith was apparently a shameless flirt, and perhaps promiscuous.

Eventually the rivalry became so intense that Annie Oakley left the show. Allegations surfaced that Smith was cheating in her Wild West act. Although Cody himself would snub Oakley and talk up Smith in his later account of the meeting with Queen Victoria, he must have realized that Smith would never be the draw that Oakley was. Sure enough, Smith left Buffalo Bill’s show just in time for Oakley to rejoin it in 1889.

Smith would never work with Cody again, but she tried to remain in the public eye, challenging Oakley to a shooting match. Oakley declined. They did meet one more time, and Oakley out shot Smith that day, and then they went their separate directions, Oakley upward and onward into general acclaim, and Smith down into obscurity.

302 Lillian Frances Smith Bathroom 302LillianFrancesSmith

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    Room Amenities

    The Lillian Frances Smith room features 1 Queen size bed, a single lavatory, & tub with hand shower.
    All rooms have wired and wireless internet & individual heat/ac.

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    Rooms Menu

    • Alexander Majors Room
    • Annie Oakley Room
    • Bill Pickett Room
    • Black Elk Room
    • Broncho Billy Room
    • Buffalo Bill Room
    • Colonel Prentiss Ingraham Room
    • Death Valley Scotty Room
    • Frank “White Beaver” Powell Room
    • Grand Duke Alexis Room
    • Lillian Frances Smith Room
    • Miss Kate Arnold Room
    • Nate Salsbury Room
    • Ned Buntline Room
    • Queen Victoria Room
    • Robert Summers Yellowtail Room
    • Rough Riders Room
    • Sitting Bull Room
    • Teddy Roosevelt Room
    • Texas Jack Room
    • The Esquivel Brothers Room
    • Wild Bill Hickok Room
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    Historic Sheridan Inn

    Sheridan Inn Hotel Reviews

    • 5 star review  What an awesome place to stay, not only a part of history but rooms are beautifully designed. The breakfast was very tasty, staff know the meaning of hospitality. WE WILL RETURN

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      thumb Robin Faulkner-Raabe
    • 5 star review  Fantastic historical hotel. Do yourself a favor and get away from the chains on the highway and stop off near downtown to this gem. Recently renovated and is a treat. Immaculate on the inside with lots of attention to detail. Preserved a lot of the historical elements. Sat down and talked with the owners who refurbished the place and they’re great people who enjoy sharing the history of the place with everyone today.

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      thumb Austin Newton
    • 5 star review  It's a very intricate piece of history I enjoy the place it's amazing

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      thumb Jason Ireland
    • 5 star review  Enjoyed a wonderful family wedding. They setup the entire ventue and accommodated their guests above and beyond and ahead of schedule.

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      thumb Kyle Gieselman
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