Not emotionally ready but time to move on, we drove north to Cheyenne, WY for couple of nights. Cheyenne is known for the “grandfather of them all” rodeo which is in August and on our list. We did get to see the Western History Museum which is a history of the Cheyenne Rodeos and very interesting. After walking the historic 26 blocks of Cheyenne, we took a horse and buggy tour to learn more about this area. We found out that Wyoming is one of the least populated states in the US and started out as a railroad town and later cattle ranching. Cattle were brought up from places like Texas to Wyoming to enjoy the vast rich fertile grass lands. Most of the rich cattle barons then settled in Cheyenne due to the railroads and the convenient way to get their cattle east to the slaughter houses. It not only provided a means to shipping the cattle east to the slaughter house but also provided richer lifestyle to ship the finer things of life out by rail. We also found out that Cheyenne had the first building dedicated to a telephone switch house. This is where the old time operators could sit at switchboards and connect phone calls. As it was the first, they decided to put together a phone book. So they collected all the names and phone numbers and went to a local printing company to have it printed up. The printing company was out of white paper and the people had a choice of waiting a couple of weeks or having it printed on color paper that was in stock. Hence the beginning of the yellow pages.
After a brief night in Casper WY which we can’t recommend, we headed to Cody, WY, where we went to the Buffalo Bill Historical Museum which is a must if ever in the area. The gun section was unbelievable especially if you love guns. I had to wipe the drool off Jack’s mouth as he looked at each of the 1500 guns on the main level and the 1200 guns on the lower level. What a display!! Jack was surprised at the number of guns that were donated from Winchester Rifle, Olin Corporation.
From here we headed to The Irma, Buffalo Bill’s original hotel named after his youngest daughter. Inside you see the $100,000 Cherry wood bar that was presented to Colonel Cody in 1900 by Queen Victoria of England. It was made in France, shipped to New York by steamer, then shipped by rail to Red Lodge, Montana and then by horse drawn freight wagon to Cody. That evening we made it to the Cody Rodeo which is every night during June, July and August. The performers are made up of young kids from all over who pay $25.00 entry fee just to try their talents. It was a fun night and would do it again.
Can’t be that close to Yellowstone National Park and not go. Knowing we only had one day we chose to see Old Faithful Geyser first. Yellowstone surprised us with the mammoth size and over 100 geysers. We saw the California’s Old Faithful in Calistoga, CA which shot up 60 feet high but Old Faithful in Yellowstone made it look small. This shot up from 103 – 180 feet high, was much wider but did not erupt as often. There are two other geyser’s in the immediate area that also erupt but we only watched the one. There are geysers releasing steam all over the park which was surprise to us. We definitely have to go back and stay in the park for at least 3 days. While driving around we saw many buffalos roaming the grounds, deer and one grizzly bear.
On to Rapid City SD for few days. Having been here for two weeks in 2006, we went to Custer State Park which we did not have time to see before. We took the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway out to Custer State Park, named after George A. Custer who led a scientific army expedition into the Black Hills in 1874. The expedition did find gold but Custer was more interested in the area’s uncommon natural beauty. The Park covers 71,000 acres in South Dakota and it is breathtaking with the granite peaks that seem to soar to the sky, glistening streams in the sunlight and various shades of green with the trees, grass and pastures. As you drive thru the Park you see Bison running freely throughout the park and they will even sit in the middle of the road while you wait for them to move. Also along the way we saw wild donkeys, antelope and prairie dogs. We did not see any elk or big horn sheep that are also located there. All the streams were filled with fisherman. Another bit of info – the filming of National Treasure was done in the Black Hills. The scouts were sent out to the Black Hills area to find potential filming locations. The team examined Needles Highway, Mount Coolidge, Harney Peak and various fire towers located within the region. However the Sylvan Lake area was ultimately chosen as one of the premier sites for the film. As there is not actual lake located within Mount Rushmore National Memorial, the scenes were filmed at Sylvan Lakes which is located in Custer State Park.
Now as you drive across South Dakota, you must stop in Mitchell and see the Corn Palace which started in 1892. The idea was started by two men to showcase the crops grown in the area and to attract immigrant farmers to settle here. We were also told that Mitchell was vying to become the state capitol and thought this idea would benefit the town. Each year a new decorating theme is chosen and the outside of the Corn Palace is stripped and redecorated with new corn and grains. The process begins in early summer with the removal of the old grasses and grains. The corn mural has to wait until late summer when the crop is ready. Over 275,000 ears of corn are sawed in half and nailed to the building following patterns created by local artist, kind of a “corn-by-number” process. There are 13 different colors of corn, each grown in a separate field, just for the Corn Palace. The Corn Palace is known around the world as a folk-art wonder on the prairie of South Dakota. (www.cornpalace.com) In 2006 when we saw the Corn Palace, the theme was Rodeo. When we stopped this time they were starting the process of removing the theme for 2009 which was “American’s Destinations” and the panels showed Washington, D.C., the Statue of Liberty, the Space Needle in Seattle, the Golden Gate Bridge, the St. Louis Arch, the Alamo and Davy Crocket, Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon, the Kennedy Space Center and of course Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Monument and the Corn Palace. The theme for 2010 is “Through the Ages” depicting various modes of transportation. The murals will show an airplane, segway, sailboat, bike, and motorcycle, canoe with Boy Scouts Logo since BSA will celebrate their 100 years in 2010, hot air balloon, snowmobile, stagecoach, four-wheeler, car and train. It is a relatively small town but many tourists come just to see the Corn Palace.
Time to go see Abraham Lincoln. Even if you are not a history buff, walking in the footsteps of Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, OH was extremely interesting. After stopping at Lincoln Depot which is now the Visitors Center, our first stop was Lincoln’s Presidential Museum. Here you journey from his rustic Indiana cabin to his Executive Mansion in the nation’s capital, his fate as the 16th President and the joys and sorrows of his family. He had 4 sons; three of them preceded him in death. There are so many facts and stories you will learn and see in this building. His adult life started in New Salem, then Springfield and on to the White House. And politics do not change as many people hated Abe and made fun of him back then. After several hours we walked to Lincoln/Herndon Law Office, the only offices that still stand where Lincoln practiced. Next stop was the Old State Capitol where Lincoln practiced law before the Supreme Court and gave his famous “House Divided Speech”. This is also where his body lay in state when he was brought back to Springfield after his assassination. Our tour guide told us that many interesting facts including one about the documents were tied up in string, red string to be specific. And here is where the term tied up in Red Tape began.
From here we walked thru town to see Lincoln’s Home while he was married and lived in Springfield. This is the only home that Lincoln ever owned. They lived here from 1844 until he left for the White House in 1861. Next we drove out to see Lincoln’s Tomb where his wife, three youngest sons and Abe are buried. His oldest son, Robert, is buried in Arlington VA. It is said that his wife Mary and Lincoln visited Oak Ridge Cemetery while they lived in Springfield. They were both impressed with the setting and that is why Mary insisted that Lincoln be buried here.
Next day we drove out to New Salem State Historic Site which is a reconstruction of the village where Lincoln lived for 6 years during his early adulthood. Through interpreters you learn about this village and about Lincoln’s life while here. One bit of trivia we learned from a German who was the wheel maker in the village, was that after all the spokes and wooden rim were joined together, they were held together by a steel wheel. This was called a tie-er and from that we have today’s term of a tire.
Also in one of the houses in the village we learn another bit of trivia. One of the interpreters who were working with yarn told us that the ladies would measure their yarn on a wheel device called a weasel. When the correct amount of thread was spun onto the wheel, the yarn would pop at the appropriate length. The kids made up a song and would try to guess when the yarn would pop and thus became “Pop goes the Weasel’.
(Hope you have enjoyed all the trivia we learned along this part of our trip)
After stopping in Monticello, IN for several days, celebrating July 4th with a boat parade on Lake Freeman, we will head to the Monica International Rally in Springfield OH to enjoy a week with all our Monaco friends.