Cheyenne Visit

With the repairs done, and holding okay, we ventured out yesterday to see downtown Cheyenne.  Dave had visited this city about 6 times in the past, never being able to sight see.  He always had a hotel right by the Union Pacific yard which is located right in downtown and had no idea the importance of UP to this town.

Control tower - right in downtown

The grade - after Cheyenne westbound, too steep

Quick history:  Cheyenne is younger than Fort Laramie, Casper, and way younger than Fort Bridger.  Founded in 1867 with 600 people who came to build the tracks for the Union Pacific railroad to come through.  However, on the same day Fort D. A. Russell (now FE Warren Air Force Base) was established by the Army to protect the citizens from Indian attacks.  After the tracks were built and continued on through to Promontory Point in Utah, the city became the "Magic City of the Plains" because it seemed the town grew overnight.  Today Cheyenne is the largest populated city of Wyoming, also the capital, and has the "Daddy of 'em All" rodeos which for 10 days in July the Cheyenne Frontier Days festival comes alive.  While in the museum we watched a video of one of the wild horse races - way too dangerous for us!

Daddy of 'em All

Original stage coach - 1859

So many carriages

Watched video of a wild horse race - crazy!

During one of Dave's work visits in Cheyenne he was told he had to visit the Cheyenne Frontier Days Museum, and if timing was right, to attend the rodeo.  Off we went to the museum.  Not having any knowledge of rodeos, wild horse racing, bronco riding, etc., the museum was still quite impressive with their artifacts and displays.  Contains the history and stories of the people who founded the town, why they came here, how it grew.  Started in 1897 to give Cheyenne a boost, the Frontier Days has become the world's largest rodeo. Original carriages and wagons and all kinds of transportation are housed inside the museum.  During the 3 different parades that takes place through downtown Cheyenne during the rodeo, they are hauled out and shown off.

Sample of original buildings in downtown

We went back to Cheyenne's Train Depot and toured the Union Pacific's museum.  Union Pacific built a switch yard right by the depot right at the beginning and today it is also a repair yard.  Weird to see an observation tower looming over the city when in fact it oversees the movement of hundreds of trains as they enter Cheyenne. Upstairs of the depot museum a model railroad is set up, a project of one man who made it his hobby - was going to throw it out - donated it to the museum.  Amazing work.  Outside the depot and located all over town are 22 different painted ceramic 8 foot tall cowboy boots, each one is a theme and was sponsored by businesses to raise money for the depot museum.  Cool.

Depot

We will be leaving Cheyenne tomorrow morning, heading to a town called Larkspur which is about 20 miles south of Denver.  We will be visiting with niece's family for a 5 day visit.  We are glad to leave the 'front range' area of Wyoming which is the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains.  Windy.  All the time.  Day and night. Rattled our teeth and rocked the RV.  Hot daytime and cold nights.  We will miss the majestic mountains, the panoramic views, looking for that runaway dog that was last seen 20 miles out running pell mell.  But it is time to move on.

Couple of pictures of the Terry Bison Ranch (original owner was FE Warren) and their animals....

Saddled up, just finished a ride, waiting for unsaddling and dinner

Goats, pigs, ostrichs, llamas, miniture ponies

Jerusalem donkeys

Butt Ugly! Needs a dentist.

Camels

The ranch's UP - for the kiddies

Red sky at night, sailor's delight; red sky in morning, sailor's take warning.  This was our sunrise this morning and it's raining right now.  Snowing in the Rocky Mountain National Park.  

This morning's sunrise