Even Cowgirls Ride The Trains

Hello, I’m back! Today’s state is Wyoming. I have drawn myself as a cowgirl. The Cowgirls of the West Museum is an organization that is dedicated to preserving the heritage and the very important role that women played in the taming and settling of the wild, rough & tumble West; The Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum is where you can learn all about the history of the world’s largest outdoor rodeo and where Western celebration comes alive; Gear up to explore at the Greater Yellowstone region with a stop at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center where “Celebrating the Spirit of the American West” is what they do every day!; The Grand Encampment Museum, another good choice, is located in Encampment, Wyoming. The history is preserved with its collection of over a dozen historical buildings filled with artifacts representing the timber, mining, and agricultural history of the Encampment valley.

The Wyoming Dinosaur Center Complex is a must for those who love discovering old relics! It includes a world-class museum, some dinosaur dig sites, a preparation laboratory and an incredible gift shop; The Cheyenne Depot Museum tells the story of the establishment of Cheyenne during the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, the operation of the Union Pacific Railroad and the history of the construction of the Union Pacific Depot; The Wyoming State Museum is an educational, historical and cultural institutions dealing with the natural history of Wyoming and the Wild West. Yee-hah!!!

Eagle Eye

Hello, I’m back, yet again. Today’s state is Nevada.  I drew the picture on a new red table and I got crayon all over it. Mom was annoyed with me. But it has been cleaned now.

The picture is of me in the movie “Viva Las Vegas.” What is there to do in Nevada apart from gambling and losing all your money? There’s the Bonnie Springs Ranch, It’s the home of Old Nevada Western Town and the Red Rock Riding Stables. It’s the best in Wild West food, fun and entertainment. You could go on the Cowboy Trail Rides. There are miles of riding trails in a magnificent desert setting, a herd of well-trained horses, and a staff of professional wrangler-guides. The Red Rock Ranch welcomes guests who want to leave the city and the 21st Century behind.

The Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park is also worth a look. The Charcoal Ovens are associated with the silver mining ghost town of Ward in Nevada. The charcoal ovens are two miles south of the townsite. The ovens were built in 1876 by itinerant Italian masons who specialized in the ovens. They were known as Carbonari. The charcoal ovens prepared charcoal from locally harvested timber for use in the smelters at Ward, using a lot of bushels of charcoal a day.

The Valley of Fire state park is a fun site to visit. You can take part in popular activities including camping, hiking, picnicking and photography and it is open all year! Sweet!

Why not visit the Grand Canyon? Go on the Grand Canyon Skywalk. It’s a glass bridge that is  suspended 4,000 feet over the Grand Canyon. To the left of it is the Colorado River and to the right is the silhouette of an eagle carved out in Grand Canyon wall. Take the walk and feel like an eagle as it flies through the canyon.  Take the walk on the Grand Canyon Skywalk if you’re brave enough!  If that’s too scary, you could just get a helicopter flight over it.

There are a few museums to visit, including The Nevada State Railroad Museum that preserves the railroad heritage of Nevada, including locomotives and cars of the famous Virginia & Truckee Railroad and other railroads of the Silver State. Many of them were bought from Hollywood studios where they were made famous in movies and television shows. Among 65 locomotives and cars in the collection, 40 of them were built before 1900, and 31 pieces that operated on the V & T Railroad. The Atomic Testing Museum is another intriguing place. There is an exhibit about Area 51. Area 51: Myth or Reality. Learn about the most secret place in all America. The first ever exhibit on Area 51 is being developed with the help of the very people who actually worked there. The exhibit will explore the real truth, the real programs and address the secrecy that surrounds the base at Groom Lake.  Ok, I’ll leave it there for now.