Cheyenne is the capital of Wyoming, so a visit there for many tourists means seeing the state house, governor's mansion, historic train depot museum, etc. Having seen all those attractions before, I did not repeat them on this occasion. Instead, I looked for something I had not seen and found it at the historic Wyoming Hereford Ranch.
Originally formed as a typical cattle ranch with a million acres and 100,000 head of cattle, the owner in 1883 decided to specialize in Hereford cattle, meaning a smaller operation but one that has made a tremendous impact on the U.S. cattle industry. The current owners, Mr. & Mrs. Hales, are the ninth owners and have owned it since 1978. They are the first owners to actually live on the ranch. In 1980, the Hales paid $261,000 for a prize Hereford bull that helped them dominate their specialized market.
Today, the operation has been scaled back to about 6000 acres and a much smaller herd. The Hales have preserved the buildings and created a ranch museum, welcoming the public to visit at no charge. Given the creek that meanders for miles on the property, along with a variety of old growth trees, the place attracts many species of birds and has been designated an important bird area by the Audubon Society. To supplement ranch income, weddings, receptions and other events can be held on the grounds for a reasonable fee.
Some 150 species of birds have been identified at the ranch over time. Here is but a small sample of what I saw during my two visits.
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| Red-headed Woodpecker |
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| Great-tailed Grackle |
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| Mourning Dove |
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| Chipping Sparrow |
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| American Goldfinch |
As the capital of the Cowboy State, Cheyenne certainly does its part to feature the cowboy theme. All over town, eight-foot tall cowboy boots, painted by local artists, remind everyone what the state is famous for. In July, the city hosts the annual Frontier Days, a 10 day festival of rodeos, shows, parades, food, and other events to celebrate their Western heritage. Known as the world's largest outdoor rodeo, this festival has been going on for 126 years.
West of Cheyenne, the town of Laramie is the third largest city in Wyoming with only 32,000 residents. The city has been featured as the setting for numerous TV and movie productions. I was more interested in some of its outdoor attractions, such as the Vedauwoo Rock Climbing Area, the Lincoln Memorial and the Ames Monument, a large pyramid honoring two brothers who were instrumental in bringing the railroad through this area.
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