Wednesday in Wyoming - June 3, 2026

 

Since Wyomingites are proud of the fact that our state was the site of many firsts, I'm going to highlight some of them this month.

I'm sure you recognize this. Yes, it's Old Faithful, the iconic geyser from Yellowstone, the world's first national park. 

Wednesday in Wyoming - May 27, 2026

 

You probably won't be surprised to learn that in addition to the JC Penney Mother Store, Kemmerer is also the location of Penney's home. 

Inside this modest building you can find everything from a butter churn to a sewing machine and even a copy of one of the first Penney's catalogs. If you're in the area, perhaps visiting Fossil Butte, it's well worth stopping by. 

Wednesday in Wyoming - May 20, 2026

 

No trip to Kemmerer, Wyoming, would be complete without a visit to the J.C. Penney "mother store." But, as you can see, that's not the only store on the block. I laughed when I saw the name of Penney's next door neighbor. 

Wednesday in Wyoming - May 13, 2026

Fossils aren't rare in Wyoming -- we have some of the most impressive dinosaur bones found anywhere -- but you probably wouldn't expect to find fish fossils in what's now a semi-arid part of the country. 

Fossil Butte National Monument celebrates the fact that there were many freshwater fish including stingrays here. For more information about what the National Park Service calls "An Aquarium in Stone," click here.

Wednesday in Wyoming - May 6, 2026

 

When you think of Wyoming, do you picture the majestic Teton mountains? Many people do, but that's only one part of the state.

Here's another one: sagebrush prairies, rock outcroppings, and a magnificent sky. (Montana may be The Big Sky State, but Wyoming has its share of big sky too.)

This was taken near Fossil Butte National Monument, around 350 miles west of Cheyenne. 

Wednesday in Wyoming - April 29, 2026

 

I've been a fan of cacti for years and never cease to be amazed by how many flowers a single small plant can produce. If only they weren't so prickly!

Wednesday in Wyoming - April 22, 2026

 

You may recall that my first April post was of a bee on a hyacinth. I don't know whether this is the same bee, but it's obviously enjoying nectar from a grape hyacinth. The flowers are pretty, but if we'd known how invasive they are, we might  not have planted them.