Railroad History

Laramie Wyoming Old West – Railroads, Outlaws, Hollywood, & Woman’s Suffrage

by Deb C September 24, 2019

Tenth and final post in a series about visiting Colorado and Wyoming.

Adventure in Old West Laramie Wyoming

Sign about Laramie Wyoming's origins on 50plusses.com

In Old West Laramie Wyoming, we found a new adventure. With our historic walking tour booklet in hand, we ambled along historic Downtown Laramie and got a history lesson. We discovered that the Union Pacific Railroad was the catalyst for the founding of Laramie. The Company established a major stop there in 1868 as it was building the Transcontinental Railroad. The Overland Trail went through the area, and there was Ft. Sanders and some settlers, but nothing like a town. Once Laramie was connected to the East Coast by rail, passengers began arriving. They came to seek their fortunes, by legal or illegal means.

The Wild Frontier in Laramie Wyoming

During Laramie’s early days, some of the West’s most notorious criminals headed there. They were trying to stay one step ahead of the law. Thugs and outlaws like Butch Cassidy threatened those who came to settle down and create a new community. After about six months of rowdy and murderous behavior, the law-abiding citizens had enough. They formed a vigilante committee. Villains were captured and hung and others fled. Law and Order came to Laramie.

Old West Laramie Wyoming, Hollywood, and actor Robert Fuller

Laramie Wyoming’s colorful Old West heritage was captured and re-lived in more than 14 TV shows and movies and inspired hundreds of books. If you are a Baby Boomer, you might remember one of the TV shows was “Laramie,” set in 1870s Wyoming. It ran from 1959 to 1963 and starred John Smith and Robert Fuller. Episodes now run on Encore, MeTV and Grit.

Robert Fuller went on to feature and guest roles in several other westerns, including “Wagon Train,” “Big Valley,” and later “Walker: Texas Rangers”. When Westerns waned on TV, he gained fame in the 1970’s as Dr. Kelly Brackett on “Emergency” but his first love was acting in Westerns.

Laramie Wyoming and Robert Fuller Fandom on 50plusses.com

As of this writing, Robert Fuller is very much alive and a trim, fit rancher in his eighties. He returned to Laramie in 2017 to a “heroes welcome.” He was Grand Marshall in the Laramie Jubilee Days Parade. In July of 2019 he was back for the Laramie TV Show 60^th Anniversary Reunion which was held in conjunction with Jubilee Days. He posed for selfies and participated in meet and greets and other events.

Laramie Wyoming Jubilee Days are Adventures for Old West fans

Laramie Wyoming’s Jubilee Days are billed as Wyoming’s Hometown Celebration – Celebrating the Western lifestyle and take place mid-July. Fans gather and get in the spirit by wearing western gear of yesterday as well as today.

The week-long schedule includes a parade, music, a golf tournament, a brewfest, and even a jalapeno contest. There’s also plenty to eat, as in addition to the local restaurants, there’s a BBQ, a pancake breakfast, and a chili cookoff. There’s even a carnival to boot. A western event wouldn’t be complete without horses and cows. So yep, there’s a rodeo with steer wrestling, tie-down roping, bull riding and more.

July 10 is Wyoming Statehood Day and celebrated during Laramie’s Jubilee days and includes the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site near Laramie. The prison was built in 1872. During the turmoil of the wild west it became a symbol of law and order . For 30 years it held violent and desperate outlaws (including the notorious Butch Cassidy). The 197 acre site boasts restored historic buildings and museum exhibits including the man and the myth of Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch gang. There’s also a nature trail, special events, a picnic area, and visitor center with gift shop. It’s open year round and there are guided and self tours.

If you are a fan of the Old West it looks like Laramie, Wyoming and especially Laramie’s Jubilee Days are for you.

Legends of Laramie Walking Tour with Robert Fuller

Walking Tours Legends of Laramie on 50plusses.com — from the Laramie Tourists Guide Book

Legends of Laramie is an audio walking tour that you follow with your cell phone. At each of 16 locations you can experience stories of Old West Laramie’s pioneers, outlaws, and vigilantes. As you stand where history took place, and you can watch a video, slideshow, or panorama recreating Laramie’s colorful past as Robert Fuller provides the narration. You can download the app or scan the QR code at the location to enjoy the tour. We had limited time so we stuck to using the Historic Downtown Laramie Tour Guide. However, we did come across one of the Legends of Laramie stops. We scanned the bar code and “boom” enjoyed Robert Fuller’s evocative telling of a Wild West moment of long ago.

Laramie Wyoming's walking tour guides on 50plusses.com — The Laramie Wyoming Visitors Center has eight walking tour guides, in print and online.

Downtown Laramie Wyoming Highlights

The railroad tracks run right along the outside of Laramie Wyoming’s downtown area. When the Union Pacific Railroad’s locomotive Big Boy 4014 stopped in Laramie the crowds were huge and filled the pedestrian footbridge over the railroad tracks . A short walk brings you to the restored Laramie Depot which is now a museum and community center. Nearby is Railroad Heritage Park which features a “snow train” consisting of a wedge snow plow, steam engine, bunk car and a caboose.

Pedestrian Railroad Bridge in Laramie Wyoming on 50plusses.com — The pedestrian footbridge in Laramie Wyoming spans one of busiest rail yards in U.S.
It says “Welcome to Laramie, Wyoming.” It’s an unparalleled vantage point for watching trains as they pass through Laramie.

The Buckhorn Bar in Laramie, Wyoming on 50plusses.com — The Buckhorn Bar in Laramie, Wyoming, formerly a saloon, has a bullet hole in the mirror put there by a jealous lover.

Coal Creek Tap and Restaurant in Laramie Wyoming on 50plusses.com — Coal Creek Tap and Restaurant in Laramie, Wyoming serves up a variety of craft beers as well as light meals as well as pizza (after 5:30 p.m.). It offers indoor seating as well as outdoor that it shares with it’s sister business, the Coal Creek Coffee Company. It’s one of the Laramie breweries on the Wyoming Beer Trail.

Women’s Suffrage started in Old West Laramie Wyoming

Wyoming Equal Rights Seal in Laramie Wyoming on 50plusses.com — Wyoming Equal Rights Seal

As we walked along, we saw this Equal Rights seal painted on a small door.

Did you know that Wyoming’s nickname is the Equality State? Buffalo Bill, founder of Cody, Wyoming, said: “If a woman can do the same work that a man can do and do it just as well, she should have the same pay.”

Perhaps his word had sway, because, on December 10, 1869, Wyoming was the first territory or state to give the women the right to vote and to hold public office. In March, 1870, Laramie was the first city in the world to include women on a jury. In September, 1870, it was in Laramie that 70 year old Louisa Swain became the first woman anywhere in the western world to vote in a general election. Wyoming also had the first female Justice of the Peace, bailiff, and first female governor.

We didn’t have time to investigate it, but Laramie has the Wyoming House for Historic Women. It is run by the Louisa Swain Foundation. It has displays honoring 13 women of Wyoming whose actions were “firsts” for women and democracy.

The Murals of Laramie Wyoming

As we walked through Laramie’s historic downtown, we noticed several murals. They are part of the Laramie Wyoming Mural Project and done by local artists. There are walking tour brochures and also a cell phone audio tour, much like the one for the Talking Boots in Cheyenne. We were walking up a very wide, and very clean alley when we saw #5 Prairie Dog Town.

Prairie Dog Town Mural in Laramie Wyoming on 50plusses.com

Wrapping up in Wyoming

If we could have, we would have spent more time in Wyoming. Going to Laramie was a late add-on. Someone at the wedding we attended said, well, if you’re going to Cheyenne, you should definitely consider going to Laramie. As it was, we were only in Wyoming for a day and a half. The time we were there was a teaser and it made us want to learn more about what we saw, and what we didn’t have time to visit.

We discovered that Wyoming has a great website with all sorts of visitors information and offers a free travel guide and email newsletter. We had no idea that Laramie and Cheyenne Wyoming have such rich histories regarding the Transcontinental Railroad, outlaws, and equal voting rights for women.

And, now we have a greater appreciation of reruns of TV and film westerns. Also of Laramie’s place in the Old West. Looking up actor Robert Fuller was fun. He has an international fan club and makes special appearances at western films festivals and nostalgia conventions. You can find him on YouTube showing how to stage a no-contact fist fight. Some videos share his anecdotes about the Laramie Show and working with Yul Brynner. If you visit his website, robertfuller.info, you will find more about his career, as well as personal appearances. You can even order autographed photos and have him record a personalized audio message for voice mail, congratulations, or a happy birthday message.

Final Takeaways of Our Trip

One final takeaway is that ordering guides to Colorado, Denver, and Boulder helped us make a list of must-sees and maybe-sees and plan our itinerary. We wished we had done that for Wyoming, but we thought we would only spend a half a day in Cheyenne. Borrowing guidebooks from our library helped, but the city and state tourism websites and materials provided more details, handy maps, and additional current tips.

We have to give a shout out to the friendly, helpful folk there who are great ambassadors for their states.

Lastly, allow yourself as much time as possible to explore Colorado and Wyoming.

September 24, 2019 3 comments

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Old Lincoln Highway Monument Rises Above

by Deb C September 20, 2019

Ninth in a series of posts about visiting Colorado and Wyoming.

Top-lofty Lincoln Monument overlooks Highway

We had read that one site to stop at was the Old Lincoln Highway Monument, with a sculpture of the head of Abraham Lincoln. Well, we had no idea where it was when it suddenly loomed ahead overlooking Interstate 80 east of Laramie. It really was a “whoa” moment. It is quite stunning to behold, whether from a distance, or close up.

It’s an easy off, on to stop at the monument and Summit Rest Area. Why is the sculture there? The sculpture was commissioned in 1959 by Wyoming’s Parks Commission. It honors Lincoln’s 150th birthday and the highest point of the Lincoln Highway. The head of Lincoln is two tons and 12 ¹⁄₂ feet high and resting on a 30-foot-tall granite pedestal.

What’s the significance of the Old Lincoln Highway?

According to The Old Lincoln Highway Brochure, the road was America’s first coast-to-coast highway. It was established in 1913 by The Lincoln Highway Association, a private visionary group of investors. Henry B. Joy, president of Packard Motor Car Company, was the first president of the association.

When it opened in 1913, no structured highway maintenance system existed. Each county had to take care of its own section with the help of volunteers. Back then, in the still early days of the automobile, they shared roads with horse-drawn vehicles. Regulations and standards were still evolving. There were no speed limits or drivers licenses.

Motorists were mostly on their own to find their way along a route that could quickly vanish under heavy snow, thick mud or spring floods. The Lincoln Highway Association had their red, white and blue logo painted on telegraph poles and fence posts every few miles. That way drivers knew that they had not lost the road.

As the Lincoln Highway era came to a close in 1928, one of the Association’s last acts was to have Boy Scouts install standardized concrete markers with bronze Lincoln medallions. This was so that the route’s dedication to Abraham Lincoln would not be forgotten.

The Lincoln Highway Association revived in 1992 and holds conventions and other activities. Visit their website to find out more about the Old Lincoln Highway. If you like transportation history, you may enjoy learning about this group.

The Eisenhower Connection

In 1919, then-Lt. Col. Dwight D. Eisenhower was part of an 81-vehicle military convoy that drove the entire 3,250-mile Lincoln Highway. The trip took 62 days and required much rebuilding of bridges along the way.

After that experience, Eisenhower urged the Federal government to make road improvement a priority. Thirty-eight years later, in 1956, when President, Eisenhower signed into law the act funding the Interstate Highway System, initiating the largest public works project in US history.

The Eisenhower Presidential Library has many photos of the 1919 Transcontinental Motor Convoy that Eisenhower led. Here are some, including those taken in East Wyoming and Laramie, Wyoming.

Henry Joy of the Packard Motor Car Company not forgotten

Henry Joy’s wish was to be buried along the Lincoln Highway. Instead, his relatives chose to erect a monument, which is part of the Summit Rest Area. The site includes four of the cement Lincoln Highway markers in salute to his role in the creation of the Lincoln Highway.

Visit the Summit Rest Stop and Visitor’s Center or download this brochure for further information about the monuments there and history of the Old Lincoln Highway.

Getting our bearings in Laramie

There are two information centers in Laramie. Due to where we parked, we headed to the one on Ivinson Ave. We had a little trouble finding it. It’s also the Laramie Main Street Office which shares a storefront and it wasn’t readily apparent that it was there. The signage wasn’t great. But the person there was awesome! Enthusiastic and full of tips about visiting Laramie and places where we could enjoy a meal outside. She gave us some great brochures including walking tour guides of the town.

Go to the next blog post, Old West Adventure – Laramie, to read about what we found while walking Historic Downtown Laramie.

September 20, 2019 0 comment

Building detail in Cheyenne that evokes western heritage

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Looking for the Old West in Cheyenne

by Deb C September 18, 2019

Eighth in series of posts about traveling in Colorado & Wyoming.

Looking for the Old West in Cheyenne includes railroads. After being enthralled by “Big Boy” we headed to Cheyenne’s restored train depot and depot square located at 121 W. 15th St. There you can see freight trains up close as they pass by the station.

Outside of the train depot and museum in Cheyenne, Wyoming

Boots, statues, and brewery in Cheyenne recall Old West

The Cheyenne Union Pacific Depot, built in 1886-1887 of rose and white sandstone, is a delight to the eye. No wonder it’s widely acknowledged to be one of the most beautiful railroad stations in North America. A National Historic Landmark, the Depot houses a visitors center, a museum, and a brewery/restaurant. The brewery is aptly named, “The Accomplice” with a nod to the outlaw gangs of yesteryear.

Cheyenne Depot Square and the restored Depot are impressive by their clean, well-kept appearance. Statues of people in period dress and a collection of over-sized boots enhance the ambiance. The inviting plaza is the site for community events and concerts. City workers were busy planting flowers throughout the Depot as we were walking by.

statue of circa 1890's woman at Cheyenne Depot

Depot Museum highlights Old West Cheyenne’s Railroad History

When looking for the Old West in Cheyenne, visit the Cheyenne Depot Museum. it tells the story of Cheyenne’s beginnings during the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, the Union Pacific Depot and the Union Pacific Railroad. You can view the Union Pacific Main Yard from the Coupler addition on the west end of the Depot. Trains still pass by the depot and tracks run over the city streets much more than what we see in New England. Trains definitely have a strong presence in this part of the country.

Locomotive brick in Cheyenne Depot — Locomotive inset in Cheyenne Depot

You’ll get a kick out of these cowboy boots!

Number 17 of 25 hand-painted 8-foot-tall boots in Cheyenne.

When you visit Downtown Cheyenne, and especially Depot Square, you can’t help but notice the colorful boots. Twenty-five tall boots are referred to as the “talk of the town” as they are part of a free audio tour. “These Boots are made for Talking” was a fund-raising project to benefit the Cheyenne Depot Museum. They were sponsored by local businesses and auctioned off. Each boot is unique and painted by area artists. The theme of the project is “If this boot could talk, what story would it tell?”

In a way, they do talk via your cell phone. A brochure available in the Visitors Center or online has a map and photos of the boots. Each boot has a number.

When you call 307-316-0067, and when prompted enter the number of the boot followed by the #key. Then you’ll hear the artist’s narrative about the boot. You’ll find more photos and information about the boots here.

Gunslingers “shoot-up” Cheyenne in mock gunfights

Gunslinger Square is the seasonal site of gunfights, western skits, and other Wild West activities. Find the fun at 15th & Pioneer, a short walk from the Depot. All of the shows are family-friendly, fun, and exciting. Every performance begins with a safety demonstration. Click here for more information.

What’s a cowboy town without a saloon?

As we were visiting the Depot at dinner time, we decided to check out the brewery/restaurant found in one end of the building. There is a patio in the front facing Depot Plaza. As it was a tad chilly, we opted for an indoor hightop. There we had a view of the tracks and the occasional freight train that passed by. It was a great experience.

According to its website, The Accomplice Beer Company brewery strives to be your accomplice on your beer adventures. They offer their own beer as well as guest taps. What is different about this brewery was that it is “self-serve.”

The hostess issues you a card. You place the card in the slot of the tap of the beer that you want. Grab a growler or glass or in a size you want, and fill as you wish. The card tracks the beer you pour and charges by the ounce. If there isn’t a server near by, you can ring a bell if you need assistance. The self-serve tap area is called “The Beer Shrine.” As you can see, they have 14 taps to choose from.

The food is good. The beer is better. It is quite the experience. It’s not only the self-pouring, but also watching other people using the shrine.

Get a taste of Cheyenne’s history with a Trolley Tour

Departing from the Depot, the seasonal Cheyenne Street Railway Trolley Wild West Tours are a great way to get an overview of Cheyenne’s rough and tumble past and a feel for the historic landmarks. The tours begin with tales of the railroad and wild beginnings from gunfights to brothels and vigilantes. You can see where the gunfights occurred and where Wild Bill Hickok was married.

The weekday trolley tours operate as a loop tour. You can disembark at any of the stops, then hop back on the trolley when it comes back by in 90 minutes. See this interactive map for information about the museums and sites that the trolley stops at. Refer to the schedule for stops & times.

You can buy tickets on this website or at the Depot. Or, you can call 307-778-3133 to purchase advance tickets by credit card.

As far as accessibility, each trolley accommodates two wheelchairs and has lifts.

Our trolley driver is a great ambassador for Cheyenne. She is full of vitality and enthusiasm for the history of the city. She provides lots of anecdotes and details as she drives from site to site. We wished that we had the time to visit some of the places we passed.

It was a Monday and some attractions, like the Cowgirls of the West Museum and Emporium, are closed every Monday.

Tips for visiting Cheyenne, Wyoming

A lot of the activities are seasonal. Be sure to visit Cheyenne.org which has a wealth of information about touring the city. Download or request guides from Cheyenne.org and the Wyoming Tourism Bureau. The guides can help you can find out when attractions are open and to plan your visit.

What isn’t readily apparent on the website, or by buying tickets online, that for a few more dollars you can buy a Trolley Plus pass that includes entrance to some of the museums along the tour. So, look into the combination rate when buying tickets. Several couples, including us, weren’t aware of this.

Please note, if you buy your tickets online, unless they change the process, you have to still physically pick them up at the Visitors Bureau in the Depot to give to the Trolley driver.

f you can only go once, go for Cheyenne Frontier Days at the end of July. That’s when they pull out the stops as far as cowboys then and now.

Whenever you might go, we highly recommend the Trolley Tour. And budget time to visit at least some of the stops along the way.

September 18, 2019 0 comment

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Cheyenne’s Big Boy Locomotive a Big Part of Railroad History

by Deb C September 16, 2019

Seventh in series of posts about traveling in Colorado & Wyoming.

Cheyenne’s Big Boy locomotive is a really big deal

It happened that our first and one of our primary stops in Cheyenne was to see “Big Boy” locomotive #4004. It’s a massive restored steam locomotive on view in Holliday Park. While it was on a list of things to see in Cheyenne, we had no idea that it was a huge attraction in more ways than one.

Holliday Park itself is an attraction in Cheyenne. It offers so much: an art center, basketball courts, a bike path, horse shoes, a pond, picnic facilities, play areas, restrooms, tennis courts, and more. Big Boy dominates one corner and there’s plenty of parking close to it.

Cheyenne’s Big Boy Locomotive a Big Part of Railroad History

A Big Boy is the world’s largest steam locomotive, and when you see one, there’s no doubt. The powerful coal-fired engine is designed to pull a 3600-ton train over the steep grades between Cheyenne, WY and Ogden, Utah. The locomotives are 132 feet long and weigh 1.2 million pounds. Because they are so long, they are hinged, or articulated so that they can get around the curving railroad tracks. Just to walk around #4004 is like walking a city block or two.

The sign by #4004 and the Union Pacific Company website, explain that 25 Big Boys were made exclusively for the Union Pacific Railroad. When working on the first engine, a worker chalked the name, “Big Boy”, on the smoke box door and the name stuck.

Big Boy locomotives ran from 1941 until the late 50’s or so, when more efficient diesel engines came into favor. The 4004 is one of seven remaining Big Boys on display throughout the country. To find out more about the Big Boys and Union Pacific, click here.

Cheyenne’s Big Boy Locomotive Restoration and Tour

We researched #4004 and we discovered that Union Pacific brought Big Boy #4014, one of #4004’s “brother” engines, back to Cheyenne for restoration in 2013. It returned to service in May 2019 to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad’s Completion. As part of the celebration, they christened #4014 at Cheyenne Depot Station, our next stop.

After the christening and commemoration ceremony of the driving of the Golden Spike, which marked the transcontinental railroad’s completion, Big Boy #4014 set off on a tour of the Union Pacific system. It’s route goes through Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and back to Wyoming by the end of 2019. Here’s a link to the schedule: Big Boy #4014 Tour Schedule. If you, or anyone you know likes trains, it’s absolutely worth checking out.

Not a railroad buff? Big Boy is worth going out of your way to see. The Big Boy is a tribute to United States history, mechanical engineering and design, and historic preservation.

For those who would like to know more about how the Transcontinental Railroad came about and the Union Pacific’s role, click here.

Cheyenne Steamers – Family Railroad Fun

Operated seasonally, the Cheyenne Steamers is a affordable miniature train ride that fits all shapes and sizes, and ages. The train travels a around a 1/10 mile circuit track. Enjoy your time riding the train or watch kids have fun. It’s located next to the Cheyenne Ice & Events Center at 1530 W. Lincolnway. Be sure to check ahead of time to see if the ride is operating to avoid disappointment. Follow on FB: facebook.com/cheyenne.steamers/

Other train attractions in Cheyenne include: Cheyenne Depot and Cheyenne Depot Museum (121 W. 15^th St., Engine 1242 (Carey Ave. & Lions Park Dr.), French Merci Train (2001 E. Lincolnway), and Ames Monument (West on 1-80, Exit 329).

September 16, 2019 0 comment