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.