Wednesday in Wyoming -- December 27, 2017

For my final Wednesday in Wyoming post of 2017, I bring you Cheyenne's iconic train depot with its holiday-colored clock tower.

I hope this year has been a good one for you and that many of your dreams will come true in 2018.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- December 20, 2017

Two weeks ago I showed you an elegant tree from the Historic Governors' Mansion. This one, part of the Paul Smith Children's Village's "Thousand Faces of Santa" display, may not be elegant, but there's no denying that it's fun. Where else would you find a tree decorated with nothing but Santas?

Merry Christmas! I wish you and your loved ones the most joyous of holidays as we celebrate the true reason for the season.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- December 13, 2017

It's the time of the year when people decorate the exterior of their houses with lights, inflatable snowmen, and other holiday-related decorations, but how many decorate whole hillsides with lighted reindeer?

I don't know about you, but the sight of that herd makes me smile and reminds me that Christmas isn't far away.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- December 6, 2017

Today's St. Nicholas Day, the perfect day to start my holiday-themed blog posts.  This year I'm going to focus on decorations in Cheyenne.

One of the most beautiful Christmas displays in the city is at the Historic Governors' Mansion. Each year they feature "Tinsel Through Time," an exhibit that showcases the differences in tree trimmings over the years.  But there's more than trees on display -- much more. Even the kitchen and laundry chute are decorated.

If you've ever toured Tinsel Through Time, you understand why it takes literally months to decorate the entire mansion. What incredible attention to detail!

This room features an early twentieth century tree, complete with boxes of animal crackers used as ornaments. I like the old-fashioned sled and wicker chair, and of course the idea of oranges being a special treat reminds me of how much has changed in a hundred years.

But some things haven't changed, including the love that makes this such a special season.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- November 29, 2017

We're going to end this month's tour of Fort Caspar with some history. This is the original sign that detailed the fort's history.  Unfortunately, it wasn't totally accurate.

As you can see from the following explanation, several important facts were misstated.

Regardless of the earlier inaccuracies, the fort is an interesting example of nineteenth century military life in Wyoming and a dramatic contrast to Fort Laramie. I encourage you to visit both if you're ever in Wyoming.

Wednesday in Wyoming -- November 22, 2017

Can you guess what this is? After showing you how officers and enlisted men lived at Fort Caspar, I couldn't resist letting you see how the horses fared. Yes, this is the stable.

Each of the stalls has a bin for hay and a basin for water. Judging from this, it appears that the horses had more privacy than enlisted men. Hmmm... What does that tell you?

Wednesday in Wyoming -- November 15, 2017

Last week we saw an officer's quarters at Fort Caspar. Today you'll see how different life was in the enlisted men's barracks.

One large room served as sleeping, eating, and recreational space for many men. And, if you're thinking that the beds look reasonably sized, it's because each of them was designed to sleep two.