Page 581 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

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z Guernsey Wyoming history and culture. Railroad, Cheyenne later
The town also housed Wyoming’s matured from a typical Wild
* 1,180. n 90 S Wyoming St
(summer only). first prison, now restored to its West town into Wyoming’s
1880s condition, when Butch state capital and the largest
Set along the banks of the Cassidy and other outlaws served city in the area.
North Platte River, this is a small time here. Located west of down- The 10-day Cheyenne
town whose size belies a wealth town, the old prison is now the Frontier Days festival, held
of historical interest. Just south centerpiece of the Wyoming every July, brings to life the
of town are two of the most Territorial Prison State Historic old days with parades, Native
palpable reminders of the Site, which includes a re- American pow-wows, horse
pioneer migrations westward creation of a frontier town. races, and the world’s largest
along the Oregon Trail. The The area around outdoor rodeo.
Oregon Trail Ruts State Historic Laramie is rich Visitors can also get
Site preserves a set of 4–6-ft historically and a sense of Cheyenne
(1–1.8-m) deep gouges carved scenically. The 50-mile heritage at the
by wagon wheels into the soft (80-km) stretch of the Cheyenne Frontier
riverside sandstone. A mile Lincoln Highway Days Old West
south, the Register Cliff has between Laramie and Museum, which
been inscribed with the names Cheyenne preserves displays hundreds
of hundreds of explorers, fur part of the first of antique saddles
trappers, and Oregon Trail transcontinental road and wagons, such
pioneers who crossed the in the US. To the west as the historic
area in the mid-1800s. of Laramie, Hwy 130 Deadwood Stage.
Evocative as these sights are, follows the Snowy Statue of cowboy, Old During the 1870s
Guernsey’s most important Range Scenic Byway West Museum, Cheyenne and 1880s, this coach
historic spot is the Fort Laramie through the beautiful made a three-day
National Historic Site, a recon- Medicine Bow Mountains. trip between Cheyenne and
struction of a fur-trapping and the gold mines at Deadwood
US cavalry outpost. Between its P University of Wyoming in South Dakota (see p442).
founding in the 1830s and its Art Museum Downtown Cheyenne features
abandonment in 1890s, the fort 22nd St & Willett Dr. Tel (307) 766- two landmark buildings – the
was a prime point of contact 6622. Open 10am–5pm Mon–Sat. 1917 State Capitol and the
between Europeans, Americans, Closed public hols & Jan. former Union Pacific Depot,
and Native Americans. Many of 7 ∑ uwyo.edu/artmuseum an elaborate Romanesque-
the buildings have been restored, Y Wyoming Territorial Prison style structure that has been
and costumed interpreters act State Historic Site restored to its original 1886
out roles from the fort’s history. 975 Snowy Range Rd. Tel (307) 745- splendor. The western edge
3733. Open May–Oct: 8am–7pm daily. of Cheyenne features Warren
T Fort Laramie National & 7 ∑ wyomingterritorial Air Force Base, the primary
Historic Site prison.com command center of the US
US 26. Tel (307) 837-2221. arsenal of nuclear-tipped inter-
Open dawn–dusk. Closed Jan 1, continental ballistic missiles,
Thanksgiving, Dec 25. & 7 c Cheyenne which are known as ICBMs.
∑ nps.gov/fola
* 62,845. k £ @ n 121 W 15th
St, Suite 202, (800) 426-5009. E Cheyenne Frontier Days Old
x Laramie ∑ cheyenne.org West Museum
Frontier Park on N Carey Ave. Tel (307)
Founded in 1867 as a US 778-7290. Open 10am–4pm daily.
* 31,000. £ @ n 800 S 3rd St,
(800) 445-5303. ∑ visitlaramie.org Army fort along the newly Closed public hols. & 7
constructed Union Pacific ∑ oldwestmuseum.org
Home to the main state
university campus, the small
city of Laramie exudes an
infectious youthful vitality,
which is rare in other Wyoming
cities. Located east of downtown
at an elevation of 7,200 ft
(2,195 m), the University of
Wyoming is the highest college
in the country. The campus is
dominated by the strikingly
modern University of Wyoming
Art Museum, an art museum
and library docu menting Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site, Laramie

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