U.S. History

Building detail in Cheyenne that evokes western heritage

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

Museums New experience Railroad History Travel in the United States U.S. History

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

New experience Travel in the United States U.S. History

A Colorado to Wyoming Adventure

by Deb C September 10, 2019

Sixth in a series of posts about traveling in Colorado and Wyoming.

Wending Our Way to Wyoming

We achieved the first part of our Colorado to Wyoming Adventure when we reached Milner Pass and the Continental Divide. Then we re-traced our drive along the Trail Ridge Road in the Rocky Mountain National Park to head to Fort Collins. The vistas were engaging as we viewed them from a slightly different angle. As we drove through the lower part of the park, we saw what we thought were herds of antelope resting not too far from the road.

Heading Northeast

Leaving Rocky Mountain National Park, we drove through Estes Park and Loveland. Driving through Estes, we marveled at the trees along the route banded with an assortment of colorful wool and fiber creations. Then we remembered that Estes-Park had their annual Wool Market and Fiber Festival that weekend.

Wool wrapped trees in Estes Park Colorado are part of annual Wool Festival

Next Stop on our Colorado to Wyoming Adventure – Ft. Collins

Our next planned stop was Ft. Collins, which was on the direct route to Cheyenne. We wanted to visit Old Town Square, a National Historic District. The area was the inspiration for Disneyland’s Main Street U.S.A. Fort Collins-born artist Harper Goff worked for Walt Disney when Disneyland was being developed. When Goff showed Disney photos of his home town, Disney was inspired to use the look of the Old Town Square buildings in his new venture.

In addition to historic buildings, there’s sculptures and fountains enhancing a pedestrian zone lined with shops, galleries, restaurants, and breweries. Unfortunately, the area was closed off for a festival, the annual Taste of Ft. Collins, and admission was $35 each. If it were earlier in the day, we might have gone for it. The music sounded great and the food smelled good, but we had planned on an hour long stroll, if that, before continuing to Cheyenne. Luckily we hadn’t gone far out of our way.

Roaming on the Range

As we drove north, we were struck by how different the landscape and vegetation is, compared to New England. In New England, while you may see mountains in the distance, in rural areas, the roads are lined with trees, often maple or pine or fir. In Colorado, we traveled through huge areas of grassland, with the trees and Rockies in the distance.

Along the highway were a variety of metal sculptures of things like buffalo, horses, and cowboys, recalling the Old West. We saw long, long, long freight trains reminding us of how the building of the transcontinental railroad spurred the growth of the United States. We were on our way to see a restored train engine, the largest one of its kind, “Big Boy.”

September 10, 2019 0 comment

Museums New experience Quirky Finds Travel in the United States U.S. History

Finding Strange Nederland Colorado

by Deb C July 31, 2019

Fourth in a series of posts about traveling in Colorado & Wyoming.

Finding Nederland Colorado – Home of the Strange

One of the guidebooks that we obtained from the Colorado Tourism Bureau had a small blurb about Nederland. It said that Nederland is one of the strangest towns you will ever visit.

With that kind of billing, how could we not go? It’s conveniently located along the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway and not all that far from Boulder.

How Nederland got it’s name

The mountains surrounding it are big and high. Nederland itself, and it’s houses and buildings are small and low. According to a walking tour handout, it was once a “wild montane meadow and trading post between the Ute and Arapaho People, mountain trappers, and explorers.”

Gradually cabins were built and a town evolved named Middle Boulder, after the creek that flows through it. In the 1870’s silver and gold were found in the area, at much higher elevations, around 10,000 feet. A company from the Netherlands owned one of the mines. The miners brought their ore down to Middle Boulder for milling as the weather was much milder. It came to be known as “Nederland”, which means low land in the Dutch language.

Get Guidance at the Visitors Center

1923 Panama Canal Steam Shovel, Bucyrus Model 50-B

There’s a free parking lot a block or two behind the main street through town. The downtown is very walkable with most highlights within a few blocks of each other. We found a lovely lady in the Visitors Center in the heart of town dispensing guides and advice. Nearby, a huge vintage steam shovel, a la Mike Mulligan, overshadows the Mining Museum.

It’s the only existing 1923 Bucyrus Model 50-B steam shovel. It was used on the Panama Canal.

A sign on the side of the steam shovel explains how it got from Panama to California, and then to Denver, then Lump Gulch, and finally, Nederland.

Mining Museum chock full of artifacts

The Mining Museum is free and it’s barn-like building is full of mining artifacts, large and small. There’s someone to answer questions and plenty of signage explaining the exhibits. The miners must have been very strong and hardy men to handle all the heavy equipment used in the mining process.

Ore cars and wagons and other pieces of heavy equipment are on display outside of the museum and in the town.

Exhibits at the Nederland, Colorado Mining Museum

Dead Guy on Ice!?

A little down a side street is a locked shed. We first assumed, from the signs, that it contained the body of a Norwegian nicknamed Grampa Bredo. He was cryogenically frozen after his death in the late 1980s . His grandson arranged to have him brought from Norway to Nederland.

Grampa Bredo is actually up in a shed looking down over Nederland. Grampa rests in a steel coffin packed tightly in dry ice in an insulated wooden box stored in the shed.

Every few weeks a local, dubbed “The Ice Man”, drives to Denver and brings back about a ton of dry ice to the shed. Family members pay about $700 a month for this delivery service. In addition, they take care of the upkeep of the shed and property.

Frozen Dead Guy shed in Downtown Nederland, Colorado

Due to this strange “resident,” Nederland celebrates Frozen Dead Guy Days every March. The activities include a coffin race, a costumed polar plunge and other chilly entertainment. The grandson of Grampa Bredo calls it “Cryonics’ first Mardi Gras”.

Quirky Colorado Festival

Looking around this small town, it’s hard to imagine, 25,000 people descending upon it for three days of the quirky event. Some consider it the “Best Dead Man’s Party” in the world. Large heated tents with live music and Bourbon and beer help keep the revelers warm as there aren’t large halls to accommodate them.

USA Today ranked Frozen dead Guy Days among the top five of “Best Cultural Festivals in 2017.” Periodically, the festival is mentioned on national and international TV, radio, and in newspapers.

More than Grampa Bredo is on ice during the festival

2019’s event featured a parade of coffin racers and hearses, a frozen t-shirt contest, icy bowling, and ice carving. Perennially popular activities include the Grampa Look-Alike Contest and Grampa’s Blue Ball.

If there’s a way to have fun centered around cold and dead Grampa, the organizers seem to have run with it.

Brews for Bredo

Local breweries commemorate Grampa with special brews such as “Dead Guy Ale” by Rogue Brewing and “Bredo’s Brew” by Grossen Bart. And why not, as Colorado is known for its breweries. We saw a brewery in Nederland, but it wasn’t open so we didn’t get to sample any local beers or raise a glass to Grampa.

It’s also strange finding a carousel in Nederland, Colorado

Down along the main street lies The Carousel of Happiness, a true vintage and running example. It’s said to have been a “mental health project” lovingly restored over several decades by a resident. The 1910 carousel features 56 hand-carved animals that waltz to the tunes of a 1913 Wurlitzer band organ.

How unexpected to find a carousel in a small former mining town in the Rockies, rather than seaside or amusement park area setting. Nearby is a old railroad caboose and train car turned into a small cafe. We bought a couple of frozen yogurt cones at the cafe and sat near an open door to the carousel to watch the animals and people whirl by.

Carousel of Happiness in Nederland, Colorado

Carousel of Happiness, Nederland, Colorado

A lot more in this little town

Although small, the town boasts several restaurants, gift shops, and places to stay. There are picnic areas, one with a playground, and hiking trails. There’s the brewery and even an EV charging station. The older part has several cosy shops and there’s a newer shopping plaza and hardware store near the carousel. If you venture to some of the side streets, you will see older and quaint housing. There’s fishing in the nearby Barker Reservoir on Rt. 119. Nederland isn’t too far from the Eldora Ski Resort.

We stopped into the post office to buy postcard stamps, which they were out of. Maybe sending postcards from the “strangest town you’ll ever visit” is a big deal.

But wait, there’s more…

Something that our grandparents weren’t able to do after trips that Baby Boomers can is research online about places that raised their curiosity. The Frozen Dead Guy Days piqued my interest and the Internet had more details about the festival. YouTube videos show the actual shed, the “Ice Man”, and the wooden box with Grampa Bredo covered in dry ice.

And still more…

A 60 minute documentary, Grampa’s Still in the Tuff Shed, tells the story of Grampa Bredo. Award winning filmmakers created it with help from Michael Moore. It’s shown during Frozen Dead Guy Days. File this under “you can’t make this stuff up.”

The festival looks like a real hoot, or should I say gobble. One video shows a clip of the frozen turkey bowling. If you like winter sports and are looking for a different life experience, plan a trip to Colorado centered around the Frozen Dead Guy Days.

July 31, 2019 0 comment

New experience Travel in the United States U.S. History

Buffalo Bill and Golden Colorado

by Deb C July 29, 2019

Third in a series of posts about traveling in Colorado & Wyoming.

View from Look out Mountain — View from Lookout Mountain in Colorado

Following the tour of the Denver Mint, we headed to Golden Colorado, with the intention of visiting the Coors Brewery.

When we arrived at the Coors Brewery, the lines were long and the parking lot full. We parked on an adjacent street and walked to the back of the line. Once we got there we found out that purses weren’t allowed. (We missed this on the Coors website.) So, back to the car my husband hiked in the hot sun with mine.

As we joined the line that snaked under a canopy with misters, we saw a small shuttle bus pull up. We had been told a bus came every 10 or 15 minutes. Seeing the size of the bus, and the line, we had second thoughts.

At the same time, new arrivals asked a Coors employee how long a wait they could expect. We discovered that we were looking at a two hour wait from where we were in the line. We calculated that might bring us to the Brewery just a half hour before closing time. Disappointed that he hadn’t shared that information with us earlier, we nixed the tour and headed back to the car. Note that this was the first week in June, which was the beginning of their summer hours and tourism season. Be prepared, and like the Denver U.S. Mint, go early in the day!

The Buffalo Bill Museum

Next on our list was the Buffalo Bill Museum and grave, also in Golden. We followed the Lariat Loop to get there. Wow! We had experienced driving up Mount Washington in New Hampshire, but the Rockies are a whole other experience! The hairpin turns and narrow roads are challenging. Not only are the curves challenging, but you are also sharing the road with hikers and bicyclists. Go slow.

A very genial fellow greeted us. He sold us our tickets and offered to answer any questions we might have once we completed our browsing through the exhibits. They offer a senior discount (65+) so we saved a couple of dollars.

What you’ll find in the Buffalo Bill Museum

The Buffalo Bill Museum was well-laid-out and chock full of information and memorabilia about his life and times and his Wild West Show. Good lighting and well cared for items, including the head of the last buffalo that he shot. The museum included videos with short segments of his show. There was information about his discovery of Annie Oakley and signing her for the show.

One item that intrigued us was a fairly thick binder that had lists of all the places where he had taken his show. What stamina the performers must have had, as travel then wasn’t as comfortable or as fast as today. There was a sign inviting visitors to look up their town. To our amazement, we found ours. We vowed to inquire at our historical society when we returned. The museum has posted a pdf of the binder so you can also look for your city or town here.

The Denver Parks and Recreation Department runs the Buffalo Bill Museum. Although a bit challenging to get to, the roads are kept in good condition. The museum may be one of the more unusual ones you may every visit and the view stupendous. Not only do you learn about a “self-made” man, but also about the times he lived in and how he shared his love of the American West with the world.

Adjacent to the museum is the Pahaska Teepee Gift Shop and Buffalo Bill’s grave site. The gift shop has quite a selection of western gear, including Stetson hats, Native American Indian crafts, and books about local historic people and events. For those who need re-fueling after the drive and museum tour, there’s a snack bar with buffalo burgers, buffalo chili, fudge, and more.

Buffalo Bill’s Controversial Grave Site

There was some controversy about where Buffalo Bill was to be buried. He had founded Cody, Wyoming and once expressed that he wanted to be buried near there. His wife and sister insisted he changed his mind and wanted to be buried on Lookout Mountain. Lookout Mountain has a great view of Denver and The Plains, and was where he was most happy. Thousands of people turned out for his funeral and burial in 1917 due to his reputation and the esteem that people had for him. There are photos of the mourners and their early autos on Lookout Mountain for the burial. It must have been quite a challenge to get up the mountain road in those vehicles.

Conspiracy Theory about where Buffalo Bill is buried

During the debate over where Buffalo Bill should be buried, there was a rumor that people from Cody, Wyoming would try to dig up the body. Several yards of cement were poured over the grave. At different times guards were posted when there seemed a plot to take his body to Wyoming.

There’s also a story that a look-alike was substituted. There was time to do so as he died in January and was embalmed several times until warm weather arrived to melt the snow and allow burial.

The Museum Director disputes this as 100’s of people filed past the body to pay their respects and he’s sure they would have known if it wasn’t him.

Note: If you want to know more about Buffalo Bill, there’s the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming, which is five museums in one about Buffalo Bill and the Old West .

The Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater

Red Rocks Park Impressive and Challenging

After leaving the Buffalo Bill Museum, we continued on the Lariat Loop until we jumped onto Rt. 70 and used a map and GPS to get to the Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater near Morrison. The Red Rock formations were impressive, but we were unable to see the amphitheater as there was a concert that night and they were only letting ticket holders in. So we recommend checking their event schedule before you go. Many concert goers had arrived early and were tailgating in the parking lot. It was a very hot day and many had makeshift canopies to block the sun.

The steps up to the amphitheater entrance were a bit of a challenge. Perhaps a combination of the altitude and heat, but I felt light-headed and had to pause several times, even though there weren’t all that many stairs, but they were on a fairly steep incline. The way back to the parking lot wasn’t as bad but I was glad I had water with me. This was early June so we wondered how hot it would be as summer progressed.

There are many other sights in the area, such as the Colorado Railroad Museum, the Triceratops Trail, and the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, but they would have to wait for another trip.

July 29, 2019 0 comment