Laramie, Wyoming: Part 2

Our second week here in Laramie begins with an afternoon tour of the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site.  The Prison housed some pretty rough characters in its day, most notably "Butch Cassidy".  Built in 1872 (fully restored in 1990) we found this tour interesting and informative.  The outside is almost all original construction but because the prison was abandoned in 1903, the interior was gutted and the building's new purpose was agriculture research by the University of Wyoming.  

 The Warden's House, located beside the Prison, was constructed in 1875.  This building is also restored and displays 19th century furnishings.

 Entering the Territorial Prison, you are greeted with large posters and info of some the more notorious inmates.  Restorers have recreated a realistic version of the cells' small, cramped interiors, levels of cell blocks, the kitchen, the dining hall, guard quarters, watchtowers and the infirmary.

This cell door here on the left is an original one from the Prison.  Right, you see the reconstructed cell doors.

 The Wyoming Territorial Prison also housed women prisoners.  Their 2 cells displayed here were completely sequestered away from the men's cell blocks.  Housing 4 women at once, it was very close quarters. The third cell block was their bathroom.  When the Prison was first constructed, the first few women who were housed were placed on the north cell block with the men but held separately at the end of the cell block.  In all a total of 12 women were ever held in the Wyoming Territorial Prison.

 All of the furnishings displayed in the Prison are artifacts from that period.  Original furnishings disappeared when the building was abandoned in 1903, then used for agricultural research purposes. That dentist chair, foot powered dental drill and dental tools gave us the creeps.

Prisoners were held to very strict rules, one which required them to change their undergarments every Sunday and failing to do so meant punishment.  Convict labor was responsible for all washing and clothing repair.

The Wyoming Territorial Prison's most famous convict was Butch Cassidy.  He was incarcerated on July 15, 1894 and spent about 18 months locked up here.  He has his own information gallery with his robbery history throughout the West, his partners in crime and how he managed to allude the law even into South America and Bolivia.

 

 

Our day trip to Cheyenne by way of the Happy Jack Highway was scenic and also quite interesting.  We found downtown Cheyenne much busier than Laramie's charming historic downtown.  We didn't spend a lot of time exploring the historic district this day, maybe next time.

Cheyenne's 8 foot tall artistically painted cowboy boots were eye-catching and fun.  We also walked into The Wrangler Store, it was stocked full of jeans, boots, hats and leather belts.

Leaving Cheyenne on West I-80, we made a couple more tourist stops.  This is The Ames Monument, found on a dirt road just off I-80.  This pyramid on the plains was erected in 1881 by the Union Pacific Railroad to distinguish the tallest point on the Transcontinental Railroad and to honor the Ames Brothers.  Not only were these men instrumental in their voiced support of the Railroad's construction, they also invested a significant portion of their own cash to fund it.  I found it interesting that when the railroad came through here, every tree in this section was cut down and used to make the railroad ties, therefore none remain in this area today.

We met a couple from California at The Ames Monument.  That's Ronnie and the gentleman standing at the base of the Monument for size.

I am not sure if these animals are deer or pronghorn.

Another stop on West I-80 was the famous "Tree-In-The-Rock". It seems this Limber pine has been here, growing out in between these 2 rocks for many, many years. The Interstate even saved the tree by splitting around it to preserve this oddity.  It's also on the Historical Landmark List of Wyoming.

The plaque, protective gate and even the iron cable binding the rocks together to keep the tree from dying were erected by the Union Pacific Railroad but I'm not sure of the year these items were added.  The plaque states this tree was growing from the rock when the Union Pacific Railroad was constructed by here in 1868.  Has this tree been growing here like this for the past 153 years?

Our last stop just off West Interstate 80 was the Vedauwoo Recreation Area.  These enormous Sherman granite rocks have eroded into forms that look like hoodoos and marshmallows.  Native Americans gave these unusual land-forms this name, meaning "Land of the Earthborn Spirits".  Now it is a rock climbers' paradise with several different sections of climbing difficulty.  Ronnie and I enjoyed a walk around one of the formations, finding all kinds of sheltering places Native Americans could have used. 

 

  My imagination saw huge boulders perfectly placed to look like stacked, toasted marshmallows.

Vedauwoo also has it's own tree growing from a rock.

The prairie rose bushes were in bloom as well.

Vedauwoo has several huge rock clusters with their own distinct formations.  This grouping has a boulder perched like a dice on its point. 

And many of the boulders are huge!

These are the Sherman Mountains, what is left of them after millions of years of erosion by wind, water and ice. It is this weathering that has rounded the corners resulting in the blocky like rock forms.

In spite of what appears to be a dry, arid environment, this stream flows through the Vedauwoo Recreation Area.

Coming up on the 'Turtle Rock Trail', we were able to catch the ending segmant of a rock climber's experience for the day.

Using binoculars, we were able to see the climber on the rock's surface crack.  You'll see him between the tree and boulder, just to the top, left of center on the crack near the top of the rock .

By the time I put my telephoto lens on the camera, the rock climber had reached the very top, finishing his climb. 

Windshield Update: A new windshield is finally on its way from Elkhart, Indiana to the installer in Rawlins, Wyoming.  We're staying in Laramie until we have conformation the winsdhield arrived without damage and we have a scheduled appintment.

More Later from Laramie.

Laramie, Wyoming: Part 1

 Laramie, Wyoming was not on our 'loosely' planned route towards Washington.  What brings us to this historic area of rolling terrain and prairie is an unexpected motorhome issue: a cracked windshield.   When we arrived to Cheyenne over a week ago, we got up the following morning to discover that small windshield crack we obtained somewhere between Arkansas and Oklahoma (about 12 inches long) had grown into a 30 inch crack.. literately overnight.   It is possible to drive with a glass crack this long (the windshield is actually 2 pieces of laminated glass molded together, this crack is in the outside layer) but not something we feel comfortable doing for any significant distance.  We made the decision to call our insurance company and cease all travel until we could get the windshield replaced. All campground options in Cheyenne were booked for the next few weeks therefore we had limited options.  Thankfully we found campground space about 50 miles west in Laramie.  With record-breaking heat temperatures all over the west and more heat-wave breaking temperatures forecast, we're fortunate to land here where highs only reach about 94 degrees.  We also discover there are some very interesting day trip possibilities for this region, so lots of opportunities to explore this area are in store.

The historic city of Laramie was founded in 1868 as a major stop on the Union Pacific Railroad.  Several of the old restored buildings from that time remain, giving the town a unique old western town appeal. These buildings now house quaint shops, restaurants and businesses.  The University of Wyoming is located here along with several historic sites, museums as well as homes on the National Register of Historic Places. Also, many movies and television shows have been filmed about Laramie, Wyoming.  One of the more famous: "Laramie" starring John Smith and Robert Fuller (1959-1963).

 Laramie's downtown clock.

 The shop owner tells me this Christmas Cactus is about 150 years old!

Founded in 2011, Laramie's Mural Project brightened up some of the bland building walls, adding a cultural flare to the city.

Laramie's storied history begins with the building of the Union Pacific Railroad in 1868.  To learn more about the history of Laramie, click this link HERE.  Arriving with a broken windshield, we had no idea we were staying in such a historic area.  From the history of building the first transcontinental railroad, to the Overland Stage crossing, the Wyoming Territorial Prison to the woman's suffrage movement..Laramie's University of Wyoming campus, art museums and galleries, antique shopping, the Snowy Range Scenic Byway it was clear we were fortunate to have plenty to do while we wait for our insurance to process and schedule the new windshield installation.

Today, Laramie is still an important railroad hub.

A view from the 1929 footbridge built over the rail yard.

The Union Pacific Snow Train 900015 (as seen in the yard of the Laramie Train Depot (1930), listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

We're expecting to be in Laramie for a little over 2 weeks.  Checking out possible day trips, we quickly learn about the Snowy Range Scenic Byway.  This beautiful drive was originally a wagon road built in the 1870's.  In the 1920's the road was constructed using horse drawn equipment and later paved in the 1930's.  In 1988 is was designated as the nation's second Scenic Byway.  Traveling west along Wyoming Highway 130 we also pass the historic monument for The Overland Trail.  Used as an alternate route for the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails, this route was primarily used by the Overland Stage Company, transferring passengers and mail to and from Salt Lake City, Utah.  You can see the white post marker out in the field.

Continuing our day trip on the Snowy Range Scenic Byway, we make a quick stop in the small community of Centennial.  Founded in 1876, this historic railroad depot now named the Nici Self Museum was an interesting discovery.

Built in 1907, the restored depot building housed many artifacts from this era.

A buffalo coat, old binoculars and old typewriters were among the vast collection of artifacts.

Housed in separate outdoor buildings were more artifacts including this 1917 LaFrance Fire Engine.

Traveling westward on Wyoming Highway 130, the scenic byway continues to climb almost 3000 feet.  Reaching the road's summit at 10,000 ft, this overlook provided stunning views of the Medicine Bow Peak (12,013 ft).

The plaque below is designated for the memory of the 66 people who lost their lives in a plane crash in 1955.  The United Airlines DC-4 crashed into the mountain sometime during the morning on October 6, 1955.  To learn more about that sad day in history click HERE.

 The geological history of the Snowy Mountain Range includes crustal movement, normal faulting, folding, uplifting and tilting of the earth's crust.  Erosion and glaciation also play a role in the mountain range formation.  It is estimated the oldest rocks to be 2.5 billion years old. 

The glacier lilies are in full bloom when we reach the summit.

Still researching the name of this alpine wildflower..

I believe this is called Lanceleaf Springbeauty.

A close up of the Globeflower.

A field of globeflowers.

 

Many of the picnic areas and hiking trails were closed this day near the Byway's summit.  The temperature in Laramie was about 93 degrees but up at Libby Flats, the summit's lookout, it was 76 degrees.

More Later from Laramie, Wyoming:

 Our visit to the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site, more downtown views from Laramie and a couple more day trips.