Travel Oracles 50 States: Wyoming
As part of my summer series - Travel Oracles 50 States - I am revisiting each os the fifty American states as an overview on travel culture and history. Today: Wyoming
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Joined: The Union Pacific Railroad played a central role in the European settlement of the area. Wyoming would become a U.S. territory in 1868, and became the 44th state on July 10, 1890.
Original Indigenous Peoples: The historic Indians in Wyoming were nomadic tribes known as the Plains Indians. They were the Arapaho, Arikara, Bannock, Blackfeet, Cheyenne, Crow, Gros Ventre, Kiowa, Nez Perce, Sheep Eater, Sioux, Shoshone and Ute tribes.
First Settlers: Most of the southern part of modern-day Wyoming was nominally claimed by Spain and Mexico until the 1830s, but they had no presence. John Colter, a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, was probably the first American to enter the region in 1807
History moment: Henry Longabaugh received the nickname “Sundance Kid” after serving time in prison between 1887 and 1889 for stealing a horse in Sundance, Wyoming. He later met Butch Cassidy and joined the notorious Wild Bunch. President Theodore Roosevelt designated Devils Tower—a natural rock formation resulting from a volcanic intrusion and a sacred site for many Plains Indians—the first national monument in the U.S. on September 24, 1906. Unfortunately is it also known for the brutal hate-crime murder of student Matthew Shepard in 1998, and on September 2, 1885, a group of white coal miners attacked and killed 28 of their Chinese coworkers, wounded 15 others, and torched 79 of their homes in Rock Springs. None of the perpetrators—who had been angered by the refusal of Chinese miners to join in a strike for better wages, and by the Union Pacific Coal Company’s decision to allow the Chinese to work a lucrative part of the mine—were ever convicted for the brutal massacre.
Known for: Cowboys, coal, wildlife, and nature: millions of tourists each year to its seven national parks, including Yellowstone, which features the iconic Old Faithful geyser and the largest hot spring in the U.S.
Places: Cody, Sheridan, Cheyenne, Jackson Hole
Movie setting: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Wind River, Brokeback Mountain, An Unfinished Life, The Hateful Eight
Musicians from: Chris LeDoux, Chancey Williams
Surprising facts: Wyoming was the first U.S. state to allow women to vote–an achievement that represented one of the early victories of the American women’s suffrage movement. Today, although it is the 10th largest state by area, Wyoming has the smallest population of all the states, with just over 550,000 residents. Wyoming is the leading producer of coal in the United States; in 2010, the state produced 40 percent of the nation’s total.
While the days of the Wild West seem like history to many of us, Wyoming is still a land of cowboys and ranches. Even in high-end Jackson Hole, western attire mixes with ski gear. True to that frontier spirit, it's a land perfect for exploration. The world's oldest national park, Yellowstone, brings scores of visitors to the state every year for the geothermal features and abundant wildlife. But don't miss out on the Grand Tetons, atmospheric towns like Cody and Jackson, and vast stretches of wide-open plains. Let’s travel to Wyoming
My Experience: I have driven through the state countless times traveling south to Colorado, frequently making stops into Rodeos and the town of Cheyenne, as well as a ski excursion to Jackson Hole. The national parks are spectacular too, and there are more luxury ranch stays than ever. Things to do in Wyoming
Nature: The state is home to most of Yellowstone National Park, one of the most popular national parks in the country. Millions of tourists visit Wyoming every year to see the geyser Old Faithful and the Grand Prismatic Spring, the largest hot spring in the country, as well as a variety of wildlife including moose, elk, bighorn sheep, wolves, coyotes, eagles, black bears and grizzly bears.
Ranking in US: Per the annual US News report, Wyoming is currently ranked #35 out of 50 in 2021 and was #31 in 2019.