Just east of Worland (adjacent to US Highway 16) is the Colby Mammoth Kill Site where bones from extinct species of Mammoths, horses, camels, and bison have been excavated. The animals were killed about 11,000 years ago by humans known as the Clovis Hunters and the site is one of the largest known Clovis mammoth kill sites in North America.
The excavated site is now filled with water, but bones from the site are on display at the Washakie County Museum and Cultural Center in Worland and at the University of Wyoming Anthropological Museum in Laramie.
 |
| Photographer Unknown |
Near the canyon entrance is the former 15,000 acre Girl Scout National Center West, part of which is now owned and operated by the Nature Conservancy as the Tensleep Preserver, with facilities for workshops and seminars.
At the top of the canyon, overlooking Meadowlark Lake, is a memorial dedicated to the men trapped in the Shoshone Forest Backwater Fire on August 21, 1937. Fifteen men died and 38 firefighters were injured. Wikipedia states that "More firefighters were killed in the Backwaterfire than in any other in a United States National Forest in the 103 year interval between the Great Fire of 1910 and the Yarnell Hill Fire of 2013.
Fort McKinney, just west of Buffalo, has now been converted into a Veterans Hospital.
In 1876 Fort McKinney was established near present-day Kaycee, but moved to its present location in 1878 because the original location was in direct violation of the 1851 and 1868 treaties with the Indians.
At its current location the Fort had 14 officers' quarters (known as "The Line"), barracks to house approximately 1,400 men (seven companies), a hospital, bakery, storehouses, stables, and auxiliary buildings. Today, all of the original buildings constructed at this site have been demolished, except the hospital that has been renovated and remains in use.
In 1894, the Army deeded the property to the State of Wyoming and in 1903 the facility became the Wyoming Soldiers' and Sailors' Home. Today, the facility is known as he Veterans' Home of Wyoming.
 |
| "The Line" - Photographer Unknown |
In 1892 small ranchers were being attacked by gunmen ("The Invaders") hired by the large ranchers; so on April 11 the small ranchers banded together and laid siege to the gunmen at the TA Ranch. Fighting continued for three days before troops arrived from Fort McKiney and the gunmen surrendered. The gunmen were sent to Cheyenne for prosecution, but they were never brought to trial.
Just a few stores to the north of the sculpture is, you guessed it, a quilt shop! Since the quilt shop was closed last time we were in Buffalo, this was a "must stop," which cost me a few dollars!
The West Texas Trail Museum in Moorcroft is small, but has a great collection of prairie history and tells how the cattle drives came to the Moorcroft area for water and good grass.
Who would have known that the "Best Town on Earth" is located in Wyoming? This required a visit!
"Old Town" is located on the north side of Upton and contains a number of historic buildings that have been relocated from other areas, and some of the other buildings have been reconstructed to represent structures typical of the period.
Located on the south side of town is an interesting "pipe-man" that welcomes guest to Upton.
The Red Onion Museum in Upton received its name from the Red Onion Saloon that closed during prohibition. For a number of years the saloon artifacts were stored in a barn, then in 1996 the items were donated to the Weston County Museum Distinct. A museum was formed in Upton and it was decided to name the museum branch after the old historic saloon.
Upton even has a mall (located in one building)!
There is an interesting weather vane at the junction of Interstate 90 and Wyoming State Route 111 -- a full-size airplane that actually turns with the wind direction.
Between 1500 and 1800 A.D., prior to the Plains Indians acquiring firearms, hunting buffalo was difficult and dangerous; so the Indians often drove buffalo off of cliffs where the injured animals could be killed easier.
In the 1970s, during construction of Interstate Highway 90, a sinkhole was discovered that contained huge volumes of buffalo bones and assorted artifacts that were perfectly preserved and covered with discrete, precisely, date-able layers of dirt.
Archaeologist currently work at the site during the summer months of each year and the public is invited to view the archaeologist at work. During the other nine months of the year the public may view the excavation site at the bottom of the pit, but the building is closed. Less than 10% of the site has been excavated, so this will be an active archaeological site for many more years.
 |
| Photographer Unknown |
 |
| Photographer Unknown |
If you have ever wanted to own your own town, Aladdin (Wyoming) is for sale at the bargain price of $1.5 million. Included in the sale price are 30 acres of land, the 110 year-old general store that contains a post office and bar, a trailer park, and a four-bedroom house.
Located about a mile down the road (not included in the sale) is the historic Aladdin Tipple.
Coal mining started at the Aladdin Mine in 1898 and the coal produced was reported to be "a good coal which burned so hot it made the stove top rattle," but the demand for domestic coal dwindled over the years and the mine closed in the early 1940s. The mine entrance has been sealed and the tipple is all that remains at the site.
No comments:
Post a Comment