Some Day is Here: a day of history in Cheyenne, Wyoming...

This area was called Crow Creek Crossing by General M. Dodge (head of construction for the Union Pacific Railroad). He felt that this area was an important division point for the railroad. It is at the eastern foot of Sherman Hill, where the rail line rises from 6,062 to 8,282 feet in only 30 miles. Dodge founded Cheyenne and began platting it on our nation's birthday, July 4 of 1867. The town grew rapidly to over 4,000 citizens by the time rails were spiked down here that November. Eastern newspapers called it the "Magic City of the Plains" because the town sprang up like magic! The cavalry established Fort D.A. Russell on July 5th to protect Cheyenne as well as the expanding railroad. As a major railhead for the cattle industry from its founding, the town was a second home for English and European cattle barons. By 1885, Cheyenne was considered the richest city, per capita, in the world. Many common men who arrived in this city in its infancy became wealthy beyond imagination. Their fortunes grew right along with Cheyenne. Small stores emerged as large businesses, attracting worldwide attention. By the early 1880s, batten board buildings with their false fronts gave way to those of brick and stone with an Eastern flair. Dozens of fancy mansions with imported marble and fine grained woods were built near where the Capital Building would later be constructed. These large homes on "Cattle Baron Row" displayed affluence and elegance of the new frontier's finest. But due to an incredibly severe winter of 1886-1887, the beef industry collapsed with the starvation of tens of thousands of cattle. Cheyenne began a new era, yet the old legends still remain.

the Nagle-Warren Mansion
now a Bed and Breakfast

We began our day at the Union Pacific Depot and Museum. The present structure replaced a small 1867 wooden structure that sat on the same spot. Due to the influence of the cattle barons, the railroad built one of the finest depots in America, finished in November of 1887. Notice the Richardsonian styling and use of polychromatic stones-two colors of sandstone from the same quarry, a rarity. The 'tunnel' through the depot is a portico intended only for the rich. its purpose was to keep the cattle barons and their families out of bad weather when they needed to catch a train. (the only other one of its likeness is in Chicago). The Seth Thomas clock in the tower was added in 1890; it still only looses about one minute a month. The east end restaurant , called the 'Beanery' was added in 1922. The lobby was redesigned in 1929 in Art Deco style. Completely restored in 2004, the depot is now a National Historic Landmark.

the depot tower
the Seth Thomas clock

the Union Station depot and Museum

the portico through the depot

the Museum

the lobby floor
displayed the Territorial connection by the railroad

dishes used to serve guests on the train

President Abraham Lincoln
was instrumental in advocating for the East to be connected
to the west and the railroad succeeded in doing just that

We caught the trolley in front of the depot

waiting on the trolley

the colorful giant boots, an appropriate signature for Cheyenne,
are found throughout the downtown. The theme of each boot is different

even if some of these women were ladies of the evening

the Depot Plaza

one of the four heritage markers on the Depot Plaza

looking down Capital Avenue from the depot

even though this is still undeveloped after the destruction of the building that stood here
I admire Cheyenne for preserving the historical buildings on wither side
redevelopment may disturb the foundation of them

Tom Horn, a stock inspector for the cattle industry was tangled up in the shooting of fourteen year old Willie Nickel, son of a sheep rancher.. Horn was already suspected of killing as many as two dozen men around Cheyenne, mostly cattle rustlers, shooting them from ambush. Horn was tricked by Marshall Joe LeFors, a man that Horn did not know. Lefors pretended to be a rancher from Montana wanting to hire Horn. Lefors got Horn drunk. Horn then bragged about being involved with the 1901 killing. Horn's drunken confession was recorded by a legal stenographer listening in the room next door and witnessed by the sheriff. Horn's drunken admission of taking the "best danged shot I ever made" at Willie got him arrested and sent to trial. Horn never again spoke of the Nickel murder, only saying that he was trying to impress his new boss. He was found guilty and was the last man legally hung in Cheyenne on November 20, 1903, a day before his 43rd birthday. Today, those who have studied the case are convinced Horn did NOT kill Willie Nickel.

is now a mortuary

once a carriage house now an art center
can you imagine the mansion that once went with this carriage house?

Cheyenne has PLENTY of geese!!!

this building was once a Stagecoach depot
and the logo for Wells Fargo happens to be a stagecoach!

our restaurant for the MOD

After eating our MOD, we shopped at the Wrangler store.

this was once the Whipple and Hay's Union Mercantile

Wyoming's state seal

Courthouse
history of the Federal Judiciary

The Plains Hotel

The Plains Hotel was finished in 1911 as a truly modern facility, the Plains was the first hotel in America to have a telephone in every room. Many famous people have stayed there; presidents Harry Truman, Richard Nixon, Ronal Reagan as well as Wallace berry, Jimmy Stewart, Debbie Reynolds, and many more.

The Governor's Mansion

Dinneen Garage
Dinneen's sold Americar, REO. Hudson, Essex, and ,later, Edsel, Desoto, Lincoln, Mercury, Buick, Jeep, and Subaru. In the early days, automobiles were shipped in Union Pacific boxcars set up on end. That way, more autos could be delivered per boxcar!

Wyoming's State Capital Building

Huge crowds gathered at this location in May of 1887 for the official laying of the Capital Building's cornerstone. Commemorative coins were made for this occasion.

The first segment of the Capital Building was finished in 1888. In 1890, the year Wyoming became the 44th state, two extensions to the building were finished. The end caps were completed in 1917.

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These statues are located in front of the capital building. The lady statue is a replica of Esther Hobart Morris, the wife of a gold miner, traveled 250 miles from South Pass City to lobby First Territorial Legislature. That was in November of 1860. Morris believed women should have more rights and wanted to persuade legislature to pass a very specific law which would help the territory become a state right away. She was successful and the bill made Wyoming the first to permanently grant women the right to vote and hold office in all public elections. The law brought the young territory fame and serious condemnation. Soon after returning to South Pass City, Morris was one of the first three women appointed as Justice of the Peace and was the first female Justice in the world to complete her service. She is now considered the symbol of women's rights. Her statue that stands in front of the State Capital is the same as the one in Washington, D.C.'s Statuary Hall in the Capital.

Chief Washakie is also honored with a statue at the State Capital Building. He was a renowned warrior that led a band of Shoshones in 1851to the council meetings of the Treaty of Fort Laramie.
He was then until his death considered the leader of the Eastern Shoshones by the U.S. Government. His prowess in battle, his efforts for peace, and his commitment to his people's welfare made him one of the most respected leaders in Native American history.

Big Boy Steam Engine

Even in retirement , old number 4004 remains an imposing sight. The world's largest steam locomotive, this powerful cold fired engine was designed to pull a 3600-ton train over steep grades between Cheyenne, Wyoming and Ogden, Utah. The 4004 is one of the eight remaining Big Boys on display throughout the country.