Wyoming Update
What is New in the Cities
The Union Pacific Railroad line stretched from Omaha to
Sacramento and helped open the West. Its depot in Cheyenne was
the showcase structure of its kind along the rail line. As with
many old depots, the building had deteriorated from disuse due
to the switch from passenger to freight service. After 14 years
of work and about $13 million in private and public money, the
Cheyenne U.P. Depot once again shines. The lobby has been
beautifully restored to its 1929 art deco look and feel.
Visitors can find out about local attractions, get a snack or
simply sit and relax. The new Cheyenne Depot Museum opened in
late 2004 and focuses on capturing the history of Union Pacific
in Cheyenne and how the railroad affected the establishment of
Cheyenne as a city. It also addresses the critical nature of the
track heading west of town in allowing construction of the
transcontinental railroad. The museum and depot are open
year-round. Contact: 307-632-3905
The Wyoming Historic Governors Mansion was build in Cheyenne in
1904. As was customary at the time for state residences, the
mansion was not built as part of a complex, but as part of an
existing neighborhood, emphasizing Wyoming residents' strong
belief that a governors place was among the people, rather than
apart from them. Among its notable occupants was Nellie Tayloe
Ross, the first woman elected head of state anywhere in the
world. Restoration work has been underway throughout 2004 and
the mansion is scheduled to reopen to the public this month. A
number of special events are planned to commemorate the mansions
centennial. Of these, the highlight of the year will be a
centennial gala weekend June 10-12. Contact: 307-777-7014,
wyoparks.state.wy.us/govern.htm.
Wyomings wild mountain streams offer exciting whitewater
kayaking but sometimes in hard-to-access or remote areas. Two
whitewater parks opened recently, one in Casper and a second in
Green River. Each is close to an interstate highway. The North
Platte River Parkway whitewater park offers river fun with five
man-made structures on the North Platte River near downtown
Casper that create a whitewater adventure for rafting, kayaking,
and all types of floatation devices. Floatation equipment is
available for rent locally. The Green River White Water Park is
located just off Interstate 80 in southern Wyoming and features
four great u-drops near Expedition Island for not only the kayak
and canoe enthusiast but also for those that just love to play
in the water! Contact: 307-577-1206,
www.casperwyoming.info/raft_canoe_kayak.html for North Platte.
307-875-5711, www.grchamber.com/white_water_park.htm for Green
River.
What is New with the States Major Icons
The Northern Rocky Mountain wolf restoration program went
through years of study, planning, and quite a bit of contention
before the first 14 wolves were brought from Canada and released
in Yellowstone National Park in 1995. Estimates now set the
number of gray wolves in Yellowstone at about 169.
Conservationists see the return of the only species known to be
missing from the world's first national park for the past
half-century as a milestone in ecological restoration. The
non-profit Yellowstone Association Institute works with park
concessionaire, Xanterra Parks & Resorts, to offer spring and
fall wildlife discoveries, marking ten years of wolf recovery.
In the spring, they offer the Wolf & Bear Discovery, which looks
for wolves and bears on field trips at sunrise and sunset. In
the fall, it's elk mating season and trips will see and discuss
the dramatic displays of mating bulls. Wolves are more elusive
in the fall, but again sunrise and sunset wildlife watching
trips give a good chance of seeing wolvesiin the wild. Other
activities include hikes in wolf and elk habitat, along with
presentations on the behavior and ecology of both species.
Contact: 307-344-5566
Devils Tower, Americas first national monument, has a centennial
year coming in 2006. The centennial committee is formed and
plans a series of events throughout the summer of next year.
President Teddy Roosevelt proclaimed the unique volcanic rock
neck and immediate area a national monument in 1906. The tower
was brought to the worlds attention most prominently as a
landing platform for extraterrestrials in Steven Spielbergs
classic sci-fi film, Close Encounters of The Third Kind. Every
summer park staff and area supporters present a cultural program
series that includes Native American lore and cowboy
songs/poetry. Contact: 307-290-5564, www.nps.gov/deto
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