Wednesday in Wyoming - July 31, 2019

Wyoming's state mammal is the bison, so it's only fitting that there would be a bison at the State Museum. What makes this exhibit more interesting than might be apparent at first glance is that the base of the poles are not ordinary metal circles but are bison-shaped.

Wednesday in Wyoming - July 24, 2019

This week Cheyenne is hosting Frontier Days, the biggest event of the year. While the highlight is the world's largest outdoor rodeo, the ten days of CFD (shorthand for Cheyenne Frontier Days) are filled with many other events that make it a delight for visitors.

From pancake breakfasts to grand parades to the Thunderbirds' spectacular air show, there's something for everyone.

I particularly enjoyed seeing this float in one of the parades, since it features an early bookmobile. Who can live without books? I certainly can't.

Wednesday in Wyoming - July 17, 2019

This doesn't look like a particularly exciting exhibit, does it?

The boxes may look ordinary, but what's inside is anything but ordinary. This exhibit, which traveled to the Wyoming State Museum earlier this year, contains fossils from a tapiromorph.

If you're like me, you've never heard of a tapiromorph. I knew about tapirs, because I'd seen one in a zoo, but tapiromorph was a new word for me. The short version of a long story is that it's a prehistoric animal that appears to be closely related to modern tapirs.

Here's more information about tapirs in general and the techniques used to identify the fossils.

Wednesday in Wyoming - July 10, 2019

It's not easy to remove fossils from the earth. This exhibit, which is next to the Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton I showed you last week (see the tail on the left side?), shows some of the tools scientists used.

Wednesday in Wyoming - July 3, 2019

One of the largest exhibits in the Wyoming State Museum is this replica of a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton. If you were wondering why it's there and so prominent, it's because Wyoming is noted for its fossils, including those of dinosaurs.

The quotation on the back wall says, "There is no square on earth as rich as Wyoming in its fossil forms of extinct life. From the Permian ... to modern annals, nearly all of the life that ever lived upon the earth can be found within the limits of the state. -- Curator William H. Reed, University of Wyoming, 1899"

Who knew that the Equality State was also a treasure trove for fossil hunters?

Wednesday in Wyoming - June 26, 2019

How much snow does Yellowstone get? If you look at the red pole in the lower right hand corner of the picture, you'll get an idea. The pole, which is used to guide snow plows, indicates that there can be a LOT of snow there.

Why? Part of the reason is the altitude. Much of Yellowstone is at 8,000 feet above sea level. That's why it's frequently the coldest spot in Wyoming. And because of that, the park has recorded snow in every month of the year. Yes, even July and August.

Wednesday in Wyoming - June 19, 2019

If you study this picture, do you see what look like sponges? They're not sponges, of course, but are rocks formed by one of the many geysers in Yellowstone.

It's sights like this that make Yellowstone so popular with visitors from all around the world. We expect to see Old Faithful, but "sponges" aren't part of most guidebooks. That makes them all the more special.