Wednesday in Wyoming -- October 28, 2015

The Lincoln Monument -- Part 4

Once the pedestal was ready for Lincoln,the next step was for the crane operators to secure straps around him.  I hadn't expected them to go around his neck, but as you can see, that's exactly where they were positioned.  And then it was time to go airborne.

You've heard of picture perfect weather.  That's what we had that day.

To my surprise, there was a lot of work -- hours worth -- after the bust was finally in place on the pedestal.

The same crew that had prepared the pedestal had to get it into exactly the right place, then secure it to the base.

Although that's not what's happening, this picture looks almost as if one of the workmen was trying to straighten Lincoln's tie.

Even after the straps were removed and the crane was able to leave, work continued, securing the monument to its base.  But eventually everything was completed, and the newly restored Lincoln monument was ready to greet travelers for many more years.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- October 21, 2015

The Lincoln Monument -- Part 3

Once the monument was sandblasted and sealed, it was time to truck it back to the summit of I-80.  Can you imagine the looks Lincoln must have gotten as he was transported down the highway?  But look at how clean he is compared to two weeks earlier.

You might think that the next step was to place the bust back on the pedestal, but there was work to be done before that.  A crew had to prepare the pedestal.  Believe it or not, that was a multi-hour project.

Next the crane had to be positioned.  And then ... 

We'll conclude the Lincoln adventure next week.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- October 14, 2015

The Lincoln Monument -- Part 2

Remember how dark the Lincoln monument was prior to its restoration?  Here it is inside the monument building at Eagle Bronze with the sandblasting almost finished.  Actually, sandblasting is a misnomer.  Instead of sand, special glass pellets were used to remove the oxidation from the statue.

Once that was finished, several coats of sealer were applied, followed by a special coating to protect it from UV rays.

You can see just how tall Lincoln is -- 13 1/2 feet -- by comparing the top of his head with the ladder.  It's a large statue!

And, yes, his bowtie is crooked.  Apparently many representations of Abraham Lincoln, including the engraving on the five dollar bill, show him with a crooked tie, so Robert Isaiah Russin, the artist chosen to create this statue, continued the tradition.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- October 7, 2015

The Lincoln Monument -- Part 1

Many travelers on Interstate 80 in Wyoming look forward to the road's summit just east of Laramie and the view of the Lincoln monument, so you can imagine how disappointed they were for a two-week period when the pedestal was empty.  Staff at the visitors' center said they had as many as forty inquiries a day about the missing statue.

Why was Lincoln gone? 

If you look at this picture taken several years before the restoration, you'll see that the statue is almost black.  That's the result of more than twenty years of oxidation and pollution.  WYDOT knew the deteroriation couldn't be allowed to continue, and so they contracted with Eagle Bronze in Lander to restore it to its original beauty.

Here's another view of the pre-restoration statue.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- September 30, 2015

Have you ever thought about how many shades of green there are?  As I travel across Wyoming, I'm reminded that there are more greens here than in the box of 64 crayons I used to have, and each tells a story.

Wyoming is a semi-arid state, so you won't see the lush velvety-green pastures of the East.  What you will find are shades of green, depending on how much water individual areas receive.  The row of deep green trees in the distance tells travelers there's a small creek nearby.  In the foreground, you see the gray-green of sagebrush, and in between there's the yellow green of grass getting ready to go dormant.
 
Boring or pretty?  It's all in the eye of the beholder.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- September 23, 2015

Have you ever seen a fence like this?  I wasn't sure why there were extra pieces of wood until I noticed the wires connecting them.  Apparently they're used to stabilize the fence in high winds.  If you've ever been to Wyoming, you know why that's necessary.  High winds are part of the reason we have some of the cleanest air in the country.

Here's another view of the fence.  Note, too, the watering troughs.  This is cattle ranching country, and beef on the hoof need water.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- September 16, 2015

You might think no one lives here, and you'd be right, but what's that abandoned building in the background?  Here's a closer look.

What is it?  A storage shed?  A temporary shelter?  Something else?