What's Vedauwoo? A mecca for hikers, rock climbers, picnickers, and people who simply enjoy being outdoors. Best of all, for those of us who live in Cheyenne, it's only thirty miles west of the city.
If you're interested in more information, here's the link. The article even tells you how to pronounce it!
Sorry, but I chose this one from a different era because it celebrates the role women have played in state -- the first women's suffrage (1869), the first woman justice of the peace ... the list goes on.
I'd like to tell you that women had a role in drafting the constitution, but sadly the one and only constitutional conference consisted of forty-nine men. Of course, women could and did vote for its ratification.
I could picture myself wearing it. Can you?
Although I couldn't decide which quilt square was my favorite, I had no trouble choosing the circular "American Revolution Bicentennial" plaque in the center as my favorite part of this exhibit. I suspect it was the organizers' favorite too, and that's why they placed it where they did.
I couldn't decide which square on the bicentennial quilt was my favorite. Would it be the Liberty Bell or the state's flag with the bison or maybe the drum? so many choices!
Which would you pick?
During the first weekend of CFD, the local Airforce base, F.E. Warren, hosts Fort D.A. Russell Days. (In case you wondered, D.A. Russell was the original name of the fort that was established at the same time as the city of Cheyenne.)
Back to the main subject. Fort D.A. Russell Days include a number of events from tours of the historic homes complete with people in 19th century dress to this one -- a demonstration of the K9 corps. I wouldn't want to be tackled by one of those dogs!
The cattle drive used to be the traditional unofficial start to Cheyenne Frontier Days and took place during the morning of the Sunday before the official start. Unfortunately, due to safety considerations, this event, which I personally found fun to watch, has been discontinued. I'm glad I have pictures of it.
If you're in Cheyenne, you can find the seal at the State Capitol building.
You might have thought, as I did, that it was erected as part of the bicentennial celebration, but that's not the case. It was one of more than fifty Liberty Bells that the Treasury Department commissioned in 1950 to promote the sale of savings bonds.
Was the drive successful? I don't know. What I do know is that the bell spent more than sixty years on the grounds of the state capitol before it was taken indoors to be restored. It's now in front of the State Museum.
However, she holds a unique place in history. Esther Morris was the first woman justice of the peace in the United States. How's that for a first?
I'm sure you recognize this. Yes, it's Old Faithful, the iconic geyser from Yellowstone, the world's first national park.
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.
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.
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.
I chose this picture for two reasons. First, I've always been fascinated by covered wagons. (Blame it on TV shows like "Wagon Train.") And secondly, since Fort Laramie was a major stop on all the westbound trails, it seemed fitting to have a wagon in the center.
I hope you've enjoyed visiting these four forts, if only through my blog posts, and that you'll come back to see what theme next month's Wednesday in Wyoming posts have.
Rather than identify each of the pieces they found while excavating, the museum's curators simply displayed them in a cabinet and left it to visitors to decide which were the most intriguing.