What a Shape We're In

When one looks at the shape of the various states, Wyoming certainly does not stand out. Along with Colorado, our neighbor to the south, we are rectangular, nearly square. How did that happen?

Wyoming is the only state that is made up of territory taken from all four of the United States major acquisitions. Five different countries have claimed parts of Wyoming. After that, and 30 different boundary changes, and Wyoming ended up a rectangle. Weird!

It took a few years but at last, the lands acquired from, Spain, France, England, Mexico and the Republic of Texas became Wyoming.

Why we love Wyoming

-Today’s trivia questions-

1. What are the names of the two waterfalls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone? Don’t think two hard on this one.

2. How did Ned Buntline help make Wyoming famous?

3. Harry Longbaugh’s nickname is one of the great wester names. What was it?

See answers at the bottom of the page

My, oh, by the way, for today – I’m feeling great, my two kid’s chapter books are both in the top 10% of all books being sold on Amazon. See both of them plus my westerns and my nonfiction CCC book here.

Now the answers. 

1. Upper Falls, Lower Falls

2. He wrote dime novels many featuring Wyoming people. His books made Buffalo Bill a legend, hero and mythical figure in Wyoming.

3. The Sundance Kid

Wyoming high country

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Happy Birthday Wyoming

Wyoming became the 44^th state in the union on this day in 1890. 

Here's Lookin' at you Wyoming

The road might be lonely, but the view is spectacular

125 today and still looking good.

Not Many People

Hey, Where Did Our Horses Go?

In May of 1865, the United States government decided to move all of the Sioux that were camped in and around Fort Laramie. The 180 plus lodges were to be moved to Pawnee land in Nebraska. But when the group reached Horse Creek, the site of the 1851 conference at Fort Laramie, old animosities were aroused. The Sioux had been pushed far enough. They took a stand, killing one officer and seven soldiers. Thirteen others were wounded before the Indians escaped south across the North Platte River.

North Platte River

Col. Thomas Moonlight, the commander at Fort Laramie, took one of his famous or infamous missteps. (I have blogged about him before when he was governor many years later)Moonlight led a force of soldiers out of the fort to capture or punish the Indians. He chased but did not catch the Sioux. Exhausted, he encamped the troops for the night. The men ate and rested, meanwhile when darkness came the Sioux helped themselves to the soldiers mounts, all of them. 

Bet the soldiers were happy to be back home in their barracks at Fort Laramie

The next day the soldiers started their march back to Fort Laramie – on foot.