Wednesday in Wyoming -- June 26, 2013

Today's the day to reveal the location where you can find all of the exhibits I've highlighted this month.  Is it a new museum?  Not exactly.

It's actually the "welcome to Wyoming" visitor center on Interstate 25 just south of Cheyenne.  In addition to providing the usual tourist information that you'd expect from a welcome center, this one (as you've seen) has exhibits that help to bring the state's rich history to life.

If you look closely at the sign, you'll see that the base appears to be layers of different colored rock.  It's actually something called rammed earth, which is a highly efficient building material.

The welcome center was designed to use minimal energy.  In addition to the rammed-earth walls, it has a living roof and windmills to generate much of the power that it uses.

Those of you who've read my bio know that I'm an avid traveler and that much of that travel has been by car.  As a result, I've visited many, many visitor centers, and I can honestly say that this is one of the best.

So, welcome to Wyoming!

Wednesday in Wyoming -- June 19, 2013

Although the movie industry has been known to glorify outlaws, they were anything but glorious to the early residents of Wyoming.  Even when they were apprehended and incarcerated, some of the most notorious managed to escape.  That's why this exhibit is titled "Running From the Law." 

If you look closely, you'll see that an enterprising inmate has dug a hole in the left side of the jail cell.  Young visitors can enter the cell and climb into the hole, escaping to waiting horses on the other side.  All right.  They're not live horses, but still .... 

Where can you find this exhibit?  The answer is coming next week.

Who Reads Amanda Cabot's Books? -- Andrea Suzanne Dawson Does

Today it's my pleasure to introduce a woman who took time away from her birthday celebration to attend my first booksigning in Cheyenne.  Since then, she's become a friend who's done everything from catering book launch parties to creating a special dress in honor of Waiting for Spring.  Let me introduce Andrea Suzanne Dawson from Cheyenne.

Those of you who've read Waiting for Spring know that it's dedicated to Suzanne, which is how she introduced herself.  It was only later that I learned that was her middle name.  If you're like me, you may wonder why she uses her middle name instead of Andrea.  When I asked her, she said that she actually prefers to be called Andrea.  (I'm trying to remember that.)  When she was a very young child, she couldn't pronounce Andrea, so her mother decided it would be easier to call her Sue or Suzanne.  I don't know about you, but I think both Andrea and Suzanne are lovely names.

Now, to learn more about her, I asked her a number of other questions.

What was the first of my books that you read?

     Paper Roses

How did you discover that book?

     I had gone to Barnes & Noble for my birthday just to see what books were out, and I noticed the sign that there was going to be a book signing, so I hung around until the author, Amanda Cabot, got there, started talking to her and bought her book, Paper Roses.

And, of course, I'm delighted that you came.

If you have a favorite Cabot book, which one is it?  (And why is it your favorite, if you'd like to share that with others?)

     My favorite is Waiting for Spring because it hits home in so many ways, and it was dedicated to me, so that makes it very special and one I will treasure all my life.

It's a special book for me, too, in part because it was the first one set in Cheyenne.  It was so much fun, learning more about the city's history.

Who are your other favorite authors?

     LaVyrle Spencer has always been a favorite of mine, but she doesn’t write anymore. I also really like Delia Parr, Dan Walsh, Deanna Gist, Joanne Kennedy, Kim Vogel-Sawyer, Suzanne Woods Fisher and all the Christian writers (just to name a few). An all-time favorite book of mine is Ashes in the Wind.

What a great list of writers!  I'm delighted to be in such good company.

What do you enjoy doing when you're not reading?
      When I am not reading, I sew, crochet, knit and work puzzles.

Is there any other information about your life that you'd like to share with other readers?
      I love being around people and especially children. I went on a mission to Juarez, and it was so rewarding that I would love to do that again.

See what I mean about Suzanne ... er ... Andrea being a special person? Thanks, Andrea for sharing your life with us.  And one final note.   Andrea and her husband celebrated their golden wedding anniversary earlier this month.  What a wonderful milestone!

Wednesday in Wyoming -- June 12, 2013

Have you ever considered how transportation affects a region?  Wyoming owes its existence as a state to the fact that major east-west routes crossed it. 

The first major migration was via covered wagon and the various trails, most notably the Oregon, California and Mormon Pioneer trails.  Then came the transcontinental railroad, which resulted in the creation of several cities, including Cheyenne, and greatly reduced travel time. 

The invention of the automobile changed travel again.  Cars needed smooth roads, so the Lincoln Highway, which roughly paralleled the Union Pacific route in Wyoming, was created.  When the Interstate Highway system was developed, portions of the Lincoln Highway were replaced by Interstate 80. 

Can you imagine what the original pioneers, who considered it a very good day if they were able to travel twenty miles, would think if they saw cars whizzing down the highway at 75 miles an hour?  

Where can  you find this exhibit?  The answer is coming on June 26.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- June 5, 2013

Did you know that Wyoming is noted for its archaeology?  I find it intriguing that dinosaurs once roamed the state I now call home.  And they were big.  How big?  Look at how small the shovel appears compared to the feet.

Those feet (and the rest of the dinosaur) are part of an exhibit at one of the state's newest locations.  Where is it?  You'll have to wait until the end of the month to find out.  In the meantime, here's another picture of the archaeological dig.