Wednesday in Wyoming - April 24, 2024

 

You can probably guess why this is one of my favorite scenes in the Historic Trails Museum. While I doubt that I would have had the courage or stamina to travel the Oregon Trail, if I'd been part of the journey west, I have no doubt that I would have wanted to record my experiences in a journal ... perhaps with the hope of one day turning those experiences into a book.

Wednesday in Wyoming - April 17, 2024

 

One of the things that makes visits to the National Historic Trails Museum so enjoyable is that there are participative exhibits. In this one, visitors climb inside the covered wagon on the right for a simulated crossing of the Platte River. It's more dangerous than you might think.

Wednesday in Wyoming - April 10, 2024

 

One of the things that surprised me when I did research about the Oregon Trail was that the pioneers WALKED. I'd assumed they rode in the covered wagons, but that wasn't the case. Yes, they sometimes slept in the wagons, but for the most part they walked alongside the oxen.

Can you imagine doing that, especially given the hazards along the trail (hint: rattlesnakes)? I can't.

Wednesday in Wyoming - April 3, 2024

 

I know it's a statue, but can't you picture the pioneers traveling west looking at the hills in front of them and realizing that these were only the beginning of the most difficult part of the journey, that they'd soon be facing mountains?

If you wondered where I found this statue, here's the answer: 

I can't praise the National Historic Trails museum too highly. Its exhibits are excellent. Some even give you the opportunity to experience what the pioneers did. If you're in the Casper area, I suggest you spend some time at the museum.

Wednesday in Wyoming - March 27, 2024

 

A wise old owl and a western landscape. As you can see, there's a wide variety of art on display at this year's Glass Art Celebration. 

Wednesday in Wyoming - March 20, 2024

 

Since elephants are one of my favorite animals, I was delighted to see this piece at the Botanic Gardens' Glass Art Celebration.

Wednesday in Wyoming - March 13, 2024

 

When I saw this at this year's Glass Art Celebration, my first thought was that the name of the piece would be "Home on the Range." I was right.

Wednesday in Wyoming - March 6, 2024

 

The annual glass art show at the Grand Conservatory of the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens is one of my favorite events of the year.

When I saw this piece of art in January of 2020, it caught my eye because it reminded me of the thousands of miles my husband and I logged on our bikes. 

Wednesday in Wyoming - February 28, 2024

 

Not only did it take several hours, it took a good-sized crew to get the bust of Abraham Lincoln properly positioned and secured on the base.

But finally, the work was done. 

Once again, travelers can enjoy the beauty of the sixteenth president's likeness as they travel Interstate 80. 

Wednesday in Wyoming - February 21, 2024

 

This was a once-in-a-lifetime day, at least for me. Once the Lincoln bust was refurbished, it was transported back to the summit and lifted onto the pedestal. 

While that may sound like a relatively simple process, getting Abe properly positioned and secured on the base took a number of hours. Fortunately, it was a beautiful September day, the perfect time to be a sightseer. 

Wednesday in Wyoming - February 14, 2024

 

Imagine travelers' surprise when instead of the familiar Lincoln bust, they saw an empty pedestal during the summer of 2015. Where did Honest Abe go?

The monument was removed from the pedestal and transported to Lander, WY, where it was sandblasted and refinished by Eagle Bronze. Notice how much different the color is from its tarnished pre-restoration state.

Wednesday in Wyoming - February 7, 2024

 

For many years, travelers knew they'd reached the highest point on the road when they saw this landmark, a bust of Abraham Lincoln. It was first installed on U.S. 30, the appropriately named Lincoln Highway, in 1959, then was moved to Interstate 80 when it was completed in 1969. 

As you can see from this picture, which was taken in 2008, time and pollution darkened what had been a bronze-colored sculpture. That changed during the summer of 2015, 

Wednesday in Wyoming - January 31, 2024

 

For my final "winter in Wyoming" post, I've stayed close to home. I smiled when I saw that this obviously hungry cottontail had dug through fairly deep snow in my backyard to find a bit of grass. So cute!

Wednesday in Wyoming - January 24, 2024

 

There's more to this picture than the snow-covered trees, even though those are beautiful enough to warrant a second look. The reason people are standing next to the fence is that a geyser is about to erupt. Yes, this picture was taken in Yellowstone.

Wednesday in Wyoming - January 17, 2024

 

Hot springs are particularly photogenic in the winter, aren't they? You might think this was taken at Yellowstone, but it's actually from Thermopolis. 

Wednesday in Wyoming - January 10, 2024

 

Although my East Coast friends believe Wyoming is covered with many feet of snow all winter, that's not always the case, especially in the eastern part of the state. As you can see, there are only a few inches on the road here ... not enough for a plow. Instead, we rely on solar road clearing.

This photo was taken on a road heading toward Lander and the famous Lander Lil, Wyoming's answer to Punxsutawney Phil.

Wednesday in Wyoming - January 3, 2024

 

Happy New Year! I hope 2024 is a wonderful year for you.

It's definitely winter in Wyoming, and so this month I'm going to feature some wintery scenes. This one is of the Laramie River at Fort Laramie, one of my favorite places in the state.