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Home , Bone Wars, Como Bluff, Names Hill, William Carlin

Trapper’s Point  e Beartooth Scenic Byway  e Flight of the Nez Percé Paleo-Indian Discoveries ’s Cultural Geology Guide Takes Trapper’s Point was named for its Straddling the border between Refusing to sign a treaty ceding their lands to the United Between 11,500 and 13,000 years ago, this red ochre mine Visitors Back in Time location near the 19th century fur Wyoming and is the States and move onto a reservation, in June 1877 more is considered one of the oldest mining sites in all of North trappers’ rendezvous sites where Beartooth Scenic Byway, an than 750 Nez Percé men, women, and children, with 2,000 America. Discovered at the historic Sunrise Iron Mine, Video Vignettes Wyoming is a state with tremendous and varied mountain men gathered to trade auto route over one of the most horses led the U.S. Army on a 1,200-mile chase across the near Hartville, red ochre mined by Paleo-Indians was used geologic resources.  ese same resources have also their goods.  e narrow ridge on formidable obstacles to modern Paci c Northwest and the plains.  e Army hoped to trap as a pigment. Similar red ochre has also been recorded at Scan the QR codes with a smartphone contributed to our cultural identity, dating back to which an overlook is situated also forms a bottleneck on transportation in North America.  e Beartooth Plateau is the Nez Percé as they left the Yellowstone Plateau near prehistoric burial sites around the world. Archaeologists to access the video vingnettes featured the days of early human occupation, about 13,000 the route of the longest large migration corridor the result of mountain building, 70-55 million years ago, the impenetrable Clarks Fork excavating the ancient mine at the Sunrise location have years ago. Rock formations served as canvases in the lower 48 states. Archaeological evidence indicates and of the Pleistocene glaciation. In 1882, Gen. Sheridan Canyon.  e Nez Percé executed also discovered Clovis points made of blue, agate-type on the map and listed below. for spiritual art, landforms served as markers for that pronghorn antelope have used this route for more crossed the plateau where the highway follows today. a feinting maneuver and escaped material along with other Paleo-Indian artifacts.  e area westward migrations, and minerals have led to the than 7,000 years. Today, near Pinedale, the route includes north.  ey made it 40 miles is rich in all sorts of hard source rock known as chert, establishment of historic mining towns. a wildlife corridor or bridge over the highway; a project American Indians of Yellowstone from the Canadian border before along with the limestones and designed and constructed by the Wyoming Department of  e volcanic resources of Yellowstone have in uenced surrendering. Chief Joseph said, dolomites of the Guernsey and e Origin of Landscape: A Guide to Wyoming’s Transportation. American Indian cultures for thousands of years. Elders “I will  ght no more, forever.” Hartville formations. Cultural Geology allows users to see and virtually have described the geysers and Pumpkin Buttes and Uranium Yellowstone explore the nexus between geological phenomena, Pinedale Anticline geothermal hot springs as spiri-  ese buttes contain uranium created from the ash of vol- Archaeologists and geologists landscape, and cultural beginnings.  e Pinedale Anticline and Jonah  eld are vitally im- tually signi cant, and the use of canic eruptions some 50 million have collaborated to better inves- • Nez Percé portant for the nation’s energy needs. Looking out at the obsidian derived from lava is a years ago.  is is the site where tigate the source of the chipping • Beartooth Scenic Byway  is intelligent travel program includes a Wyoming sagebrush landscape, when driving south of town, it is hard well-documented source for tool in 1951 J.D. Love  rst discov- material. At the Sunrise Mine • American Indians/ State Geological Survey website with an interactive to believe that this geologic anticline includes one of the making. Recent discoveries also ered uranium in a Wyoming sed- they noted a rich deposit of chert, jasper, and quartzite, Yellowstone Plateau map, feature stories, photos, and video vignettes largest gas  elds in the world. suggest that prehistoric people imentary basin. Love’s discovery materials commonly used to create tools and projectile on each site represented on the tour.  e videos Since drilling began in the late may have lived year-round at high elevations. Whitebark led to uranium fever: Prospectors points.  e agate material may have resulted from a mass include scienti c experts discussing the cultural and 1990s, this area has provided pine nuts, along with mountain sheep and deer, may have and ranchers postured for potential stakes. What historian movement of rock, or by water movement along faults in geological signi cance of each site featured on the nearly 40 trillion cubic feet of been important high elevation food resources for native T.A. Larson calls “the complex pattern of rights to land and the area. Green River Basin tour. natural gas to the nation. peoples. minerals” in Wyoming led to confusion in all directions. • Great Divide Basin  e Sunrise Mine • White Mountain Pet- Funding for this program was provided by the Mining for copper was short-lived at roglyphs Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund  e Oregon/ Trails the Sunrise Mine, from 1881 until •  e Oregon/California Trails, an over 1887. During the 1880s, as copper www.wsgs.wyo.gov 2,000-mile long route from Missouri mining progressed, it became obvious • Trona Resources to Oregon and California, enabled that there was also extensive iron at • Opal, Wyoming the migration of nearly 400,000 the site.  rough the promotional early pioneers and farmers, as well as e orts of Charles Guernsey and I.S. gold miners, traders, and business- Bartlett for a mining district, Colo- Pinedale Anticline men to the West Coast in the 1840s rado Fuel and Iron Co. optioned the and 1850s.  e trail followed many claims and eventually took owner- • Trapper’s Point natural travel corridors, including ship. Iron production began about • Modern Day Journey river valleys and mountain passes. 1900. Miners were able to “let loose” of the Pronghorn  e route was grueling with trech- in the nearby town of Hartville, • Oil and Gas Resources erous river established in 1884 during the copper crossings days. By By Chamois L. Andersen and naviga- the 1900s, Como Blu there were Maps by Suzanne C. Luhr tion of the Museums research by Andrea M. Loveland Continental 10 saloons • Como Blu and the Editing by Suzanne C. Luhr and Andrea M. Loveland Divide. Nu- in Hartville “” Wyoming State Geological Survey, 2015 merous geologic landmarks, such as and other Independence Rock marked the trail. establishments for entertainment.

“Spanish” Diggings Vedauwoo Paleo-Indian artifacts were discovered Recreation Area White Mountain Petroglyphs at Spanish Diggings within the Hart- Evidence of native people who in- ville Uplift.  ese ancient quarries • Vedauwoo Recreation habited the Green River Basin from were  rst thought to be the result Area about 1,000 to 1,500 years ago to the of gold-prospecting expeditions by historic era, can be seen in the soft Spanish sandstone explorers. of the However, Hartville Uplift Wasatch by 1935 Formation. archaeolo- • Red Ochre and Clovis  is site gists began contains docu- • Sunrise Mine/Hartville rock art menting the 10,000+ year history of • “Spanish” Diggings depicting hundreds of animals and Indian groups on the High Plains, people, from bison and bear to horses including the vast network of pits and and warriors.  is site was of great tunnels left by groups of native hunt- Powder River Basin spiritual signi cance to Wyoming’s ers who quarried stone for projectile early peoples who created the rock points, knives, scrapers, and other • Pumpkin Buttes and art. tools. Spanish Diggings artifacts have Uranium been found throughout the plains.

Trona Resources Great Divide Basin Vedauwoo Recreation Area Como Blu , the “Bone Wars” Sediments from the ancient Modern-day travelers on Inter- Rising from the Wyoming plains is a rocky oasis of giant Como Blu is an anticline that Lake Gosiute, today contain the state 80, west of Rawlins, cross granite rock features sculpted by the forces of erosion.  is contains mudstones, sandstones, Check out the online guide with feature stories, largest deposits of trona in the the Continental Divide twice. geological phenomenon is a destination hot spot by visitors siltstones, and limestones of the videos and photos on the tour sites. world. Between the southern Wind to the Medicine Bow National Forest. Upper Jurassic Morrison For- www.wsgs.wyo.gov/public-info/cultural-geology River Mountains and Atlantic mation deposited in rivers and While many of the Earth’s Rim, southwest of Rawlins, The rocks at Vedauwoo crystalized in Precambrian oodplains about 150 million years ago when Tour Guides minerals such as trona are used for industrial purposes, the divide splits, forming the Great Divide Basin along the time, 1.4 billion years ago, long before hard-shelled roamed the area. Como Blu is the area of some of the  rst Wayne Sutherland, Wyoming State Geological Survey consumers may not realize they also bene t from them in crest of the continent. It is also called the Red Desert Basin appeared in the rock discoveries of remains in the world.  e Julie Francis, Wyoming Department of Transportation Tom Drean, Wyoming State Geological Survey a number of their everyday products. Wyoming leads the for the red soil derived from Eocene formations that cover record. area received this distinction because of the sheer number Brent Breithaupt, U.S. Bureau of Land Management nation in trona mining, producing high-quality soda ash the basin’s oor. It, along with the much larger Green River of fossils found and the exceptional preservation of the Robert Gregory, Wyoming State Geological Survey from the mineral. Soda ash is used in everything from glass Basin, was covered by Lake Gosiute during the Eocene Vedauwoo’s Sherman Granite dinosaur skeletons. Martin Larsen, Wyoming State Geological Survey to the box of baking soda in your refrigerator. epoch, 49 to 53 million years ago. is one of the first rock units of Precambrian age to be Dinosaur bones were discovered here in 1877 by UP Opal, Wyoming Although it disappeared millions of years ago, Lake Gosi- documented in Wyoming. Railroad workers, William Reed and William Carlin.  at Opal represents one of Wyoming’s early railroad centers ute has shaped the cultural landscape of the Great Divide Geologist Nelson Darton in 1910 named the granite same year, Reed and Carlin contacted Professor Othniel for cattle and sheep ranchers. One might suspect that with Basin since the earliest days of human occupation at the after General William T. Sherman. Near Charles Marsh (Peabody Museum of Natural History the town’s name there had to be opal found in the area. end of the last Ice Age (10,000 years ago). As the lake dried this area there is a geologic feature known as the at ) and Professor  ere are two versions of the and was buried by younger sediments, lake-bottom muck “Gangplank,” a natural land bridge linking the high (Academy of Natural Sciences in ) about their e Origin of Landscape: name: A sheepherder called his slowly became cemented into rock. Within these rocks a prairie to the mountains. This natural feature became discoveries, which led to a urry of quarrying activity.  e Wyoming’s Cultural Geology Guide dog “Opal” and the other story variety of hard, int-like “cherts,” were formed that were the route of the Transcontinental Railroad and today story of the “Bone Wars” is about the bitter rivalry between is railroad conductors named the used by native peoples to create stone tools. the route of Interstate 80. Marsh and Cope and the dinosaur rush at Como Blu . From the Oregon Trail to Paleo-Indian red ochre Photos by Chamois L. Andersen station Opal for tints of opal in Trona photo by Robert Gregory Hosts Julie Francis and Wayne Sutherland on shoot mining sites, Wyoming has many locations where Pumpkin Buttes photo courtesy of Darby Hand the surrounding mountains. Pronghorn photo by J. Berger for the Green River Basin videos. culture and geology merge and stories unfold. Wickiups photo by Yellowstone National Park Oregon Trail, Spanish Diggings, Hartville photos from the American Heritage Center MUSEUMS Historical Timeline Historical Timeline (cont.) Albany County Dubois Museum–Collections include rock samples and geologic  e Nelson Museum of the West–Designed by founder Robert L. Homesteader Museum–Celebrates history through thousands of A fi re hearth dating to 2,950 B.C. was found at Rigler maps of the region. Large murals depict the topography and Nelson, exhibits showcase the history of the Old West. Collections artifacts, historic buildings, and photographs of early Big Horn 1878–Arapaho were relocated to the Wind River Reserva- Bluffs (Park County) near Corwin Springs, MT. This and geology of the Torrey Rim. Guided tours. (909 W. Ramshorn, include military, cowboy, and American Indian artifacts, as well as Basin pioneers. (324 E. First St., Powell, WY, 307-754-9481) tion to share it with the Shoshone. UW Geological Museum more than 500 prehistoric archaeological sites have been –Features Wyoming’s past environments, Dubois, WY, 307-455-2284) western art and natural history. (1714 Carey Ave., , WY, 1879–Silver was discovered near Lusk. The settlement identifi ed in Yellowstone, including several in Norris Geyser highlighted by a 75-foot () skeleton. An- 307-635-7670) Platte County next to the discovery was called “Silver Cliff,” built in 1884. Basin and Lower and Upper Geyser basins. other highlight is “Big Al,” a display of the most complete Allosau- Museum of the American West–Celebrates the di erent groups 1881–Copper was discovered near Hartville. The town of Around 12,000 to 11,000 years ago, evidence indicates rus ever found. Also see legendary geologist Dr. Sam Knight’s of people who utilized the critical geography of what is now cen- Lincoln County Glendo Historical Museum–A large collection of local fossils. Hartville (established, 1884) was named for one of the main American Indians inhabited the area known today as large, Tyrannosaurus rex, outside the museum. (Central campus, tral Wyoming and helped shape the American West. (1445 West Displays also include tortoise shells, dinosaur bones, and petri ed investors in the copper mining company, Major V. K. Hart. Wyoming, principally the Clovis, Folsom, and Plano cultures. near 11th St. and Lewis St., Laramie, WY, 307-766-2646) Main St., Lander, WY, 307-335-8778) Fossil Butte National Monument–Some of the world’s best-pre- wood. (204 S. Yellowstone Hwy, Glendo, WY, 307-735-4242) 1882– (between Laramie and Cheyenne). served fossils are in the at-topped ridges of southwestern Wyo- Spanish Diggings (Platte-Goshen-Niobrara counties) UW Anthropology Museum–Follows the “Human Odyssey,” Civilian Conservation Corps Museum–Hands-on display of The pyramid-formed monument is made of native granite City Historic Site–Interpretive center and activities ming. Prepared fossils can be seen in the visitor center. Fossil bear- was used (12,000 years ago) for stone quarrying by from the evolution of humans in Africa to the spread of our rocks and fossils from the Guernsey area. Exhibits on the history with a 60-foot base and 60 feet high. The Union Pacifi c on gold and the Carissa mine. Tour 17 restored and exhibited ing layers are visible on the Historic Quarry Trail (864 Chicken American Indians in search of high-quality toolstone. throughout the world, to the Late Pleistocene entry into the New of the Sunrise Mine (iron ore) and the geological history. (Guern- Co. built Ames Monument in honor of Oakes and Oliver original structures, blacksmith operations, and the historic Creek Rd., Kemmerer, WY, 307- 877-4455) Artifacts made from Spanish Diggings quartzites and cherts World. (North side of campus, 12th St. and Lewis St., Laramie, sey Lake State Park, Hwy 317, Guernsey, WY, 307-836-2334) Ames, two brothers who pledged $47 million to construct have been found across Wyoming and throughout the plains. WY, 307-766-5136) Smith-Sherlock General Store, or pan for gold in Willow Creek. the fi rst Transcontinental Railroad in 1865. It was designed Fossil Country Frontier Museum–Highlighting the history of the (125 South Pass Ave., South Pass City, WY, 307-332-3684) Sheridan County by pre-eminent 19th century American architect Henry 18th Century  e American Heritage Center–UW’s repository of manuscripts local coal mines.  e museum also has fossil  sh from the area on Hobson Richardson. 1742 collections, rare books, and the university archives. (2111 Willett –Frenchmen Francois Louis Verendrye (as noted in his display. (400 Pine Ave., Kemmerer, WY, 307-877-6551) Sheridan County Museum–A major exhibit explains the history 1884 Dr., Centennial Complex, Laramie, WY, 307-766-4114) Goshen County –The fi rst oil well was drilled in Wyoming at Dallas journal) entered the area of Wyoming and may have come of coal mining in the county.  e display also includes a diorama Dome (southeast of Lander), followed by Salt Creek (north as far as the Bighorn Mountains. Natrona County at the Historic Ivinson Mansion–Re- Goshen County Homesteaders Museum–Historical artifacts, of the mining town of Monarch. (850 Sibley Circle, Sheridan, of Casper). Salt Creek is the most productive fi eld in Wyo- 19th Century stored 1892 house with displays of historical and western artifacts. information, and genealogical resources related to Goshen County WY, 307-673-0644) ming’s history, producing 700 million barrels since 1889. Tate Geological Museum–Interactive geological and paleontologi- 1807–Fresh from the Lewis and Clark expedition, mountain Guided tours. (603 E. Ivinson St., Laramie, WY, 307-742-4448) from the  rst settlement in 1834 up to 1976. (495 Main Street, T-Rex Natural History Museum–Tyrannosaurus rex and a 1888–Bentonite was mined in the Rock River area (Albany cal exhibition, which includes marine and terrestrial fossils of ora County). man, fur trapper, and explorer John Colter stumbled upon Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site–Run as a ter- Torrington, WY, 307-532-5612) skull on display.  e museum also o ers dioramas of and fauna (dinosaurs and mammoths), as well as an extensive col- 1890–Wyoming Territory admitted into Union as 44th present-day Yellowstone. The area was called “Colter’s Hell.” ritorial and state prison from 1872 to 1903.  e building held dinosaurs in their prehistoric environment. (1116 Big Horn Dr., lection of minerals. (124 College Dr., Casper, WY, 307-268-2514) state, July 10. 1811–The Oregon Trail was originally a route created by notorious outlaws like Butch Cassidy and Clark “the Kid” Pelton. Western History Center–Interpretive exhibits include archaeol- Ranchester, WY, 307-655-3359) 1891– was dedicated as the fi rst fur trappers and traders (1811–1840). It was only passable (975 Snowy Range Rd., WY, 307-745-3733) ogy, the Cheyenne-Deadwood Stage route, mining, the Texas Trail, Fort Caspar Museum–Exhibits on central Wyoming’s history, pre-  e Brinton Museum–Dedicated to American Indian art and on foot or by horseback. Emigrant Trail, Spanish Diggings, and paleontological artifacts. historic peoples, Plains Indians, ranching, and the energy industry, culture, as well as to American  ne and decorative art. (239 Brin- U.S. national forest. 1896–Copper was discovered at Rudefeha in the Sierra 1812–Discovery of South Pass (Fremont County). The Big Horn County Guided tours. (2308 Hwy 26, Lingle, WY, 307-837-3052) as well as the western emigrant trails and frontier army. (4001 Fort ton Rd., Big Horn, WY 307-672-3173) Robert Stuart expedition, returning from the Pacifi c Coast, Caspar Rd., Casper, WY, 307-235-8462) Madre (Carbon County). Copper production from the En- Sublette County campment area amounted to more than 23 million pounds came through South Pass, the easiest way over the Conti- Greybull Museum–A diverse display of rock and from 1899 to 1908. nental Divide. The discovery led to the formal migration use fossil specimens. (325 Greybull Ave., Greybull, Green River Valley Museum –Exhibits show- 1898–Iron ore mining began near Hartville by of the Oregon Trail. WY, 307-765-2444) case the coal mining history of the Big Piney • Independence Rock (Natrona County), an important Fuel and Iron Company. The town of Sunrise, a company area.  e history of hydrocarbon exploration town, was founded two years later near the mine. Total landmark on the Oregon Trail. Campbell County and production is also highlighted. (206 N. • Pilot Butte (Sweetwater County) guided mountain men in production during 1900–1980 was about 42,454,000 tons. Front St., Big Piney, WY, 307-276-5343) The mine closed in 1980 after the price of iron dropped. the Green River Basin beginning in 1812. It also served as a Campbell County Rockpile Museum–Includes Museum of the Mountain Man–An educa- landmark for the Oregon Trail. a display of plant fossils from the area. (900 W. 20th Century 1822 tional journey back in time to the fur-trade –Names Hill, the oldest emigrant inscription. One 2nd St., Gillette, WY, 307- 682-5723) 1901–Wyoming Frontier Prison in Rawlins opened for pris- famous inscription on the rock is the carved name “James era. Experience the lives of Wyoming’s early Wright Centennial Museum–Photographs and explorers. (700 E. Hennick, Pinedale, WY, oners. Bridger–1844.” If the inscription is authentic, it was not 1906 historical items related to coal mining. (104 307-367-4101) – National Monument (Crook County), carved by Bridger because he could not read or write. fi rst national monument in . 1824–Rocky Mountain fur trappers and traders, including Ranch Ct., Wright, WY, 307-464-1222) Sweetwater County 1912–Limestone was discovered in the Laramie Range. American Indians and mountain men began holding mostof near Cheyenne. The mine was operated by Great Western Carbon County their annual meetings along the Green River. Rock Springs Historical Museum–Housed Sugar Company, which in 1945 opened a quarry near La- 1833 –First recorded reference to the occurrence of oil in the original Rock Springs City Hall ramie. Medicine Bow Museum–A pictorial display and within the state after Cap. Bonneville’s visit to the “Great (1894). Features exhibits on the history of 1913–The Lincoln Highway was established as America’s historical exhibits of the area. (405 Lincoln Hwy, Tar Spring” on the Popo Agie River near present-day Lander. Rock Springs, coal mining, and heritage. (201 fi rst coast-to-coast highway (U.S. 30). 1834 Medicine Bow, WY, 307-379-2383) –Ft. Laramie, fi rst permanent trading post, established B St., Rock Springs, WY, 307-362-3138) 1916–Agate basin site (Natrona County) discovered by by William Sublette and Robert Campbell (Goshen County). –Historical artifacts on rancher William Spencer. Paleo-Indian temporary camps 1836–The fi rst migrant wagon train was organized in Inde- Western Wyoming College Natural His- coal mining and the old mining towns of Carbon were also discovered there. pendence, MO. Wagon trails were cleared to go further and tory Museum– with life-sized and Hanna. (502 Front St., Hanna, WY, 307- further west, reaching the Willamette Valley in Oregon. dinosaur displays. (2500 College Dr., Rock 325-6465) Springs, WY, 307-382-1600)

Saratoga Museum– e geology of south-central Sweetwater County Historical Museum 1918–Uranium discovered at Sliver Cliff, near Lusk. 1842–First recorded sale of oil. Oil Mountain Springs, 20 – Wyoming with illustrations by legendary geol- 1922–U.S. Secretary of the Interior leased Teapot Dome miles west of Casper, sold oil to Oregon Trail travelers as Explore the stories of American Indians, ogist, Dr. Sam Knight (1892–1975), and fossil naval oil reserves in Wyoming. lubricant for wagon wheels. explorers, fur trappers, travelers of overland displays with stromatolites. (104 E. Constitution 1923–Standard Oil at Casper, the location of the largest • Gold was discovered in the South Pass district by a Geor- trails, railroad workers, coal miners, cowboys, Ave., Saratoga, WY, 307-326-5511) gasoline-producing refi nery in the world. gia-born miner. The gold rush continued to 1867. sheepherders, homesteaders, business people, 1925–Teapot Dome (Natrona County) scandal, a bribery • The great migration of the Oregon Trail, included nearly Grand Encampment Museum–Exhibit of Wy- trona miners and oil and gas workers. (3 E. incident that took place from 1921 to 1922, during the ad- 400,000 settlers, ranchers, farmers, miners, and businessmen oming mining history; the Aerial Tramway, built Flaming Gorge Way, Green River, WY, 307- ministration of President Warren G. Harding. and their families. The eastern half of the trail was also used in 1902. (807 Barnett Ave., Encampment, WY, 872-6435) 1929–Grand Teton National Park was established. by travelers on the (from 1843), Bozeman 307-327-5308) 1941–During World War II, the U.S. Government designed Trail (from 1863), and (from 1847) before Teton County Little Museum–Geologic exhibits a plant to be built in Laramie to recover alumina from an- turning off to their separate destinations. include a display of minerals, a wooly mammoth orthosite by an alkali-sinter process. • The fi rst record of a coal deposit was in western Wyoming. Jackson Hole History Museum–Exhibits tusk (found in Alaska), and other fossilized 1947–The San Francisco Chemical Company opened Wy- The discovery was made by the second Frémont Expedition. on the early culture of Jackson Hole, Grand bones (Eocene epoch). (13 Country Rd 561 N., oming’s fi rst large-scale phosphate mine (Lincoln County). 1847–Mormon migration to Utah. Mormon ferry estab- Teton, and Yellowstone, featuring American Savery, WY, 307-383-7262) 1948–First trona mines in Wyoming. Opened in 1948 by lished on North Platte River. Indian artifacts and items of the fur trade, Westvaco, Wyoming produced 95% of the entire world’s 1859–The Raynolds Expedition recorded the second Wyoming Frontier Prison– e Wyoming Peace ranching, and pioneer days. (225 North supply of natural trona. The mineral is used in detergents known discovery of coal in the state in the Powder River O cers’ Museum and exhibit on the current Wy- Cache, Jackson, WY, 307-733-2414) and glass production. Basin–the location of the most prolifi c coal fi elds in the na- oming State Penitentiary. Guided tours. (500 W. • West Poison Spider Oil Field (Natrona County) had the tion today. Grand Teton National Park–Naturalists pro- Walnut St, Rawlins, WY, 307-324-4422) deepest producing oil well in the U.S., at 14,309 feet deep. 1860– started. vide information and interpretive walks and 1951–USGS geologist J. David Love discovered uranium at 1861–Transcontinental telegraph completed and Pony Ex- Carbon County Museum–More than 30,000 arti- talks. Stop by any of the four visitor centers Pumpkin Buttes in the Powder River Basin. press discontinued. facts on the history of Carbon County, a territory for events and programs, including the Craig 1953–Neil McNeice of Riverton spotted a thick yellow 1866–First major discovery of oil. White Oil Spring, Uinta of trailblazers. (904 W. Walnut St., Rawlins, WY, 307-328-2740) National Historic Trails Interpretive Center–Explore the Ore-  omas Discovery Visitor Center. (307-739- layer of uranium ore in a cliff; the famous “Lucky Mc Mine.” County. John C. Piere (or Fiere) reported he had found Hot Springs County gon, California, Mormon, and Pony Express trails, capturing the 3300) 1957–The “yellowcake town” of Jeffrey City (Fremont oil in a spring near Ft. Bridger. More than 150 barrels of oil real-life drama on the trails between 1841 and 1868. (1501 N. Uinta County County) was named. Like many mining towns, it grew into were sold to the Union Pacifi c Railroad. Converse County Hot Springs County Museum and Cultural Center–Exhibits on Poplar St., Casper, WY, 307-261-7700) a thriving community as the mining of uranium increased. 1867–Construction of the Transcontinental Railroad began the process of hydrocarbon exploration and production. Also cov- Wyoming Pioneer Memorial Museum–Includes a display of var-  e Unita County Museum–Features the county’s history of 1962–Iron ore was mined at South Pass. U.S. Steel oper- in Wyoming. The railroad brought the fi rst large permanent ers coal mining and the geology of the hot springs. (700 Broadway Niobrara County ious rocks and fossils from the Douglas area. (400 W. Center St., coal mining.  e exhibit has artifacts from the 1800s coal mining ated the taconite mine, located south of Lander, from 1962 population to the state, which led to the establishment of St.,  ermopolis, WY, 307-864-5183) Douglas, WY, 307-358-9288) and a childrens’ (hands-on) exhibit on igneous, metamorphic, until it closed in 1983. many Wyoming towns, including Cheyenne, Laramie, Rawl-  e Stagecoach Museum–Located in the former Wyoming Wyoming Dinosaur Center & Dig Sites–A “Walk  ough Time” and sedimentary rocks. (1020 Front St., Evanston, WY, 307-789- 1969– Vore Buffalo Jump (Crook County). Discovered by ins, Green River, and Evanston. Glenrock Paleon Museum–Rock samples from a wide range of National Guard Armory. Houses relics from the 19th and 20th exhibit guides visitors through the evolution of prehistoric life. 8248) interstate highway surveyors; the site was donated to UW 1868–Wyoming Territory created. stratigraphic units and geologic periods. Exhibits of dinosaur bones centuries when Lusk was a notorious cow town and homesteader (110 Carter Ranch Rd.,  ermopolis, WY, 307-864-2997) by the Vore family in 1989. It contained more than 20,000 • Fort Laramie Treaty promised the Cheyenne, Crow, Ara- and fossils. (506 W. Birch St., Glenrock, WY, 307-436-2667) area. (322 South Main, Lusk, WY, 307-334-3444) Washakie County bison that were stampeded off the cliffs by American Indians paho, and , lands of the Powder River area and the as early as 3,500 years ago; one of the largest bison kill sites . The Shoshone were allocated the lands in the Crook County Johnson County Park County in the United States. Wind River Valley by the Treaty. Washakie County Museum & Cultural Center–Contains sig- Hoofprints of the Past Museum–Rocks and fossils from the Kay- 1975–Diamonds were fi rst discovered in Wyoming (south • Wind River Reservation, near Lander, for Shoshone Indi- Devils Tower National Monument–An astounding geologic fea- Old Faithful Visitor Education Center–Featuring exhibits about ni cant exhibits of archaeological sites in the Bighorn Basin, from cee area. (344 Nolan Way, Kaycee, WY, 307-738-2381) of Laramie) by Dr. M. E. McCallum. ans created by treaty. ture that protrudes out of the rolling prairie surrounding the Black the hydrothermal features and volcanic geology of Yellowstone ancient mammoth hunters to early settlers, as well as displays on 1987–Knightia adopted as Wyoming State Fossil. 1869–Wyoming Territory organized. Hills.  is site is considered sacred to the Lakota and other tribes. National Park. the geology, archaeology, and paleontology of the area. (2200 Big Johnson County/Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum–A geological 1988–Wyoming quartzite quarried near Hartville was se- 1872–Yellowstone Park, fi rst national park, established. (Hwy 110, Crook County, WY, 307-467-5283) Horn Ave., Worland, WY, 307-347-4102) display includes specimens of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimen- Bu alo Bill Center of the West– e Draper Museum–O ers lected by geologist Ray Harris (WY State Geological Sur- • Wyoming Territorial Prison (today a State Historic Site) Crook County Museum and Art Gallery–Located in the base- tary rocks, casts of dinosaur bones, and an assortment of fossils a variety of geology and paleontology-related exhibits on Yel- vey) as the Wyoming stone used in the construction of the ran as a territorial and state prison in Laramie from 1872 Weston County ment of the county courthouse, includes exhibits of dinosaur from the area. (100 Fort St., Bu alo, WY, 307-684-9331) lowstone.  e museum has interactive computer stations on the Bicentennial of the Constitution monument in Philadelphia. to 1903. and mammoth bones, and a collection of rock samples from the geomorphologic features, seismic activity, and geothermal history • Frederick-Hell Gap site named State Archaeological Site, 1876–Gold discovered near Centennial (Albany County). Anna Miller Museum–Exhibits pertaining to coal mining, Sundance area. (309 Cleveland, Sundance, WY, 307-283-3666) Laramie County of the area. (720 Sheridan Ave., Cody, WY, 307-587-4771) nomadic people lived there about 12,000 years ago. 1877–Chief Joseph led his Nez Percé people through the including artifacts and mining tools relevant to the historic Cam- 1994–Triceratops adopted as Wyoming’s State Dinosaur Yellowstone area into Sunlight Basin (near Cody) and north Meeteetse Museums– ree museums in one location: Charles bria coal camp near Newcastle. (401 Delaware Ave., Newcastle, Fremont County Wyoming State Museum 2012–Two overpasses were constructed by the Wyoming almost to the Canadian border before U.S. troops caught –Operated by the State of Wyoming, a Belden Photography Museum, Meeteetse Museum, and  e Bank WY, 307-746-4188) repository for Wyoming history, art, natural history, and fossils, Department of Transportation for pronghorn antelope to up, surrounded them, and forced them to surrender, Oct. 5. Riverton Museum–Includes an exhibit on the petroleum history Museum. Exhibits (including endangered black-footed ferret), industry, American Indians, pioneers, and Wyoming’s cultural seminars, and tours (archaeological and historical). (1947 State Wyoming Travel and Tourism–Search Wyoming museums at use for their annual migrations (Sublette County). of Fremont County and a paleontology display (700 E. Park Ave., Sources: Wyoming Almanac, By Phil Roberts, David L. Roberts, and heritage. (2301 Central Ave., Cheyenne, WY, 307-777-7022) St., Meeteetse, WY, 307-868-2423) www.wyomingtourism.org Riverton, WY, 307-856-2665) Steven L. Roberts, 2013. Wyoming’s Oil and Gas Industry, By Alan J. Ver Ploeg, 1982.