On May 27, day 8 of our bus tour, we left Custer State Park and headed back to Wyoming with a destination of Cheyenne for the night. We stopped at the historic Fort Laramie along the way.
We got a surprise after breakfast as we were heading back from the restaurant in the Old Inn to the Creekside lodge to pack up, we found the entrance to the Creekside Lodge blocked by a buffalo. It looks tame, but of course is not and could charge. A few days before a buffalo had attacked a gardener and butted the lawn mower up against the Lodge. The gardener was okay. I guess the buffalo didn't like the noise (don't blame him).
Fort Laramie, Wyoming
Fort Laramie is a historic fort, a frontier outpost of the U.S. Calvalry, and is part of the Oregon Trail. It has been maintained in its natural state by the National Park Service.
Originally privately built in 1834 to facilitate the buffalo trade, it was a small 100 x 80 feet building of logs with a 15 foot palisade. Then in 1849 the U.S. Army bought it as part of a plan to establish a military presence along the eimigrant trails. The army constructed many new buildings including officers' and soldiers' quarters, stables, cooking facilities, guardhouse, garrison, etc.
This fort became the main supply outpost of the Northern Plains, for emigrants, the pony express, and the telegraph. Many treaty negotiations were held here with the Northern Plain indians. Eventually major military campaigns were launched from Fort Laramie in the Indian wars.
Soldiers' Quarters
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| Inside Soldiers' Quaraters (second floor) |
Fort Laramie was located about 1/3 between the Missouri River starting point for emigrants and their destinations in California and Oregon. It became a stopping point before beginning the journey through the Rocky Mountains. The emigrant population at Fort Laramide lasted about 45 - 50 days during the summer months. After weeks on the trail, emigrants refreshed themselves at this fort and bought supplies and made repairs to their wagons for the onward journey.
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne is the capital of Wyoming. The city was created mainly as a result of government land incentives for railroad building and after the conclusion of the Civil War, its population soared as it became home to railroaders, speculators, merchants, wealthy tourists and military personnel. Cattle ranching followed as a major industry and Cheyenne became the social and cultural centre for cattle barons who hired cowboys to ride the range. In 1874 gold was discovered in the Black Hills of Dakota and this led to the development of the Cheyenne to Deadwood stage coach carrying freight and payrolls to the mining district.
The older seciton of Cheyenne's downtown reflects this history, with many significant buildings.
Three co-joined buildings built 1882 - 1884. Left is the Idelman Building built by Max and Abe Idelman, Polish Jewish immigrants, who constructed it for their wholesale liquor and cigar enterprise. Next is the Commercial Building built by Francis Warren who became a real estate tycoon in Cheyenne. Eventually he became the state governor and then senator for 39 years. The building on the right is the First National Bank Building.
The home of wrangler jeans which are especially constructed for cowboys (no inside seam), and featuring all sorts of clothing and accessories every cowboy and girl could possibly want. Fun to browse around.
The Cheyenne streets are decorated with cowboy boot sculpturs - similar to the orcas and grizzly bears here in Vancouver a few years ago.
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