In nineteenth century America, Indians were commonly viewed as an inferior race and one that could be taken advantage of. There were, however, white Americans who thought differently, believing that Indians were almost if not as advanced as their white counterparts and that they had the ability to coexist with them. As some of the ideas of Indians being an “inferior race” progressed and were passed along via word of mouth, they began to form from a classic case of racism to full blown myths and…
that has intrigued us as much as the "Old West." Over the years, the Old West has been depicted in many ways, especially bringing attention to to the legends of gunfights and the notorious outlaws, who seem larger than life back then. In Cody, Wyoming, there is a special place that brings visitors back to these days. Old Trail Town is an amazing attraction that captures this unforgettable time in history. With a twenty two year span from 1879-1901, Old Trail Town focuses on the height of…
Have you ever wanted to go to Oregon? There are many sights and experiences to see, feel, and try, along with a rich history. It’s the year 1803. President Thomas Jefferson bought a huge swatch of land for the US, including what is now Oregon. He sent explorers to map the territory. Later, in 1840, settlers traveled up the Oregon Trail. On February 14, 1854, Oregon became the 33rd official state. Oregon may have gotten its name from the French word “Ouragan”, which means hurricane and was a…
Many felt it was only right to return the wolf to it former hunting grounds, especially since mankind was directly responsible for them being eliminated in the first place. There were many though, primarily the cattle ranchers and sheepherders of Wyoming, that feared the return of the wolf and its potential impact on their livelihoods. Yellowstone National Park seemed like the best choice for implementing this experiment, since both the animals, and the human residents of the area, could be…
Should the Electoral College Be Abolished? For a long time, Americans have questioned the way that the Electoral College system is run and how many hoops a person must jump through to become the President of the United States. The Electoral College system was set in place by the framers of the Constitution because they did not like the idea of a direct vote but wanted the citizens of the United States to have a say in the way the country was run. Not only do the Presidential candidates have to…
In Yellowstone National Park, there are more than 11 native fish species in the waterways, with the Yellowstone cutthroat trout historically being the most abundant fish in the park (NPS, n.d.). The cutthroat has been the dominate fish species in this area for hundreds of years, being fished by both the Native Americans who lived in this area and the wildlife. This fish is an integral part of Yellowstone’s ecosystem because they are relied upon as a keystone food source for birds, bears, river…
William Henry Jackson William Henry Jackson, a man of ambition who loved to paint, write, and explore, but his greatest love was photography. Throughout his entire life, he devoted himself to the scenic and historic sites of the West, producing over a hundred thousand negatives. “He was the first person to photograph the wonders of Yellowstone and other places in the American West, as well as documenting the Civil War in a number of sketches.” (Weiser, 2003) Jackson was born in…
beautiful Bear Lodge Mountains of northeastern Wyoming, surrounded by the Belle Fourche River, and seeing a grand structure of rock, a thousand feet up in the air. Nearly half a mile high, Devil’s Tower stands tall and proud, able to be seen from miles away. Devil’s Tower is known for its exciting climbing aspects, however, there is so much more than meets the eye when it comes to this particular climbing range. Devil’s Tower National Monument in Wyoming possesses a thought provoking cultural…
North Cheyenne, Wyoming headed for Casper, Wyoming. Made up of prominent men of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, employees and hired guns from Texas, Idaho and other parts of the United States, the group disembarked the train in Casper and started on horseback to Buffalo, Wyoming. The mission of this mob was to hang 70 men on a list of “rustlers” in the town of Buffalo which was considered a that time to be a haven and hideout for numerous rustlers and cattle thieves in the Wyoming…
After around two months of conversing about moving to Oregon we’ve finally decided to move because of all of the farming space we will have and how nice the fertile soil will be. The past few years farming hasn't been treating our family too well and we’ve been trying to get by with all of our bills and taxes for the longest time. Our hope is that we’ll be able to move to a large field and grow our crops and start a home in the first year. I've heard lots of good things about the trail too, but…