Doreen admiring the 'Fluffy Cow'
Very busy day #1 of 3 here in Cheyenne WY. This morning we explored the downtown area, walking the sidewalks through the maze of very old buildings and visited four museums plus had lunch at the historic Albany Restaurant. Several hundred pictures were taken but I will do my best to throttle my excitement with the blog posting tonight!
Before we headed out, I was forced to vent my frustrations with Bank of America. Them, AT&T, Directv, Verizon and other like companies that we have to deal with over the phone are trying their best to make sure I stay on blood pressure medication. Bank of America has an automated attendant (voice menu system) designed by a total idiot. I was an Air Force communications technician including installing and setting up telephone systems for many decades, so I can speak to this. Doreen knows me well enough that when I start in with one of these companies she usually gathers up the dog and just leaves the area!! Long story short, I finally got ahold of a human, the unfortunate one from Texas today, and addressed the issue I called about, but not before getting an earful of me. Then before we hung up, I got Doreen's phone on speaker next to mine and I asked her to tell me (1) what phone number to call, (2) what buttons to press or (3) what key words to use to get through to a human. Ha Ha she could not do it!! I said, now see what I am talking about?! She said she was going to open a ticket. Yeah right.
OK, away we go. First stop was the Military Memorial Museum and it was locked up - no signs or anything. Their web site said open at 0900 hrs so of course I told Doreen that people were just out to piss me off today. So I called them. You have to go across the street and pay at the Nelson Museum of the West and then they will let us in. So we did and while there we went ahead and visited that museum.
“The mission of the Nelson Museum of the West is to build an important collection of Military, Cowboy and Native American Artifacts, Western Art and Natural History Material, and to share this collection with the public in a way so as to educate them as to the history of the Old West.” The collection was designed by Robert L. Nelson to show visitors a broad spectrum of our older western cultures. Cowboy, Charro, Art, Native American and Military aspects of the west were carefully studied and needed artifacts put on a list for acquisition. It includes over 14,000 items very well presented. We saw some absolutely amazing items.
Absolutely awesome parade saddle and accessories covered in Sterling silver and 14k gold.
Bits and bridles
Noncommissioned cavalrymen
All animals were hunted in the "fair chase" method - in a manner
that does not give an unfair advantage to the hunter
Cavalry officers
A beautiful display of Smith and Wesson firearms 1854-1945
We then headed up to the second floor for many more displays.
19th century cowboy and Indian weapons
The studio of artist Burt Procter
Our neighbors to the south display. Charros and Vaqueros
Artistry of Silver and Steel - Artistic works of spur makers
Edward H Bohlin saddle maker for the stars in Hollywood - incredible!!!
Hey Yogi!
These three photos are from items involved with lawmaker George Carroll, sheriff in Laramie County from 1921-1942. He was involved with the break up of the Ma Barker gang as well as many other well known cases.
We finished up here and then the receptionist escorted us across the street and opened up the Military Memorial Museum.
This museum "began with the goal of acquiring uniforms, saddles, firearms and sabers depicting all of the enlisted and officers of the U.S. Cavalry from the Civil War to 1943 when the horse Cavalry was disbanded. The Museum has met the goal and expanded the collection far beyond the Cavalry. The collection is now inclusive of other branches of service in the Army including artillery, infantry, medical and Army Air Corps. Special collections of 1902 and 1938 Dress uniforms are also included." Again, the primary displays are
uniforms, saddles, firearms and sabers. Extensive book collection
Women in the Service display
Military Honor Room
Five star generals
They had extensive firearms displays from many countries.
Sten guns from Britain
US long guns 1897-1970
Canadian and England
My bucket list - the iconic Thompson. Plus an Italian Beretta
France
Germany
China
Russia
Russia
Vietnamese uniforms
Japanese World War II uniforms
Handguns 1910-2020. I own several of these!
Civil War Weaponry
This was one of the best military museums we have seen as far as uniforms and. long guns and handguns. What a beautiful collection.
From here we walked a couple blocks to the Cowgirls of the West museum. This museum focuses on history & legends of our pioneering western women, including Annie Oakley, Mary Carter, Ruth Roach, and Dell Burke.
The story of Sacajawea, who translated for Lewis and Clark on their journey. We have followed her journey on our journeys!
Early corded switchboard - telephone came to Cheyenne in the late 1800's
"The settling of the American West has often been romanticized in print and video media, where the lives of western women have sometimes been depicted as easy, simple, carefree, romantic and often glamorous. Nothing could be further from the truth. These pioneering women worked very hard and right along side the men to make the American West the one we know today."
An interesting factoid here. The classic western bibbed shirt. It was developed by the US Army in the 1870's to reduce uniform costs. The troops would dribble tobacco spit on the bib and it could be laundered or replaced rather than the whole shirt. It was only natural that the design would be adapted for use by cowboys on western ranges!! And now you know!!
Next door to the museum was an emporium or "mercantile" as they described. It was full of western items for sale.
Combination athletic shoes and cowboy boots!
A saddle purse! Very detailed and not that expensive
We walked from here to the Cheyenne Depot Museum. This Union Pacific depot was built in 1886 and given to the Cheyenne WY community in April 1993 by the Union Pacific Railroad Company.
Inside is the restored depot area where travelers would buy their tickets, board and deboard the passenger train.
Other parts of the building are now a museum full of memorabilia and historical information about the Union Pacific railroad.
Another critical part of the transcontinental railroad right here!
16th Street Cheyenne in 1868! This winter the Union Pacific Railroad ended here.
The history of Cheyenne impacted by the railroad
The Union Pacific Cheyenne yard in 1948!
Beautiful dinnerware from Union Pacific passenger cars
Telephone come to Cheyenne in 1881!
The second floor is an extensive model train display that is fully functional!
Outside there are elaborate cowboy boots as there are in other parts of town.
"A New Beginning" - a tribute of the role of women in settling the west
and Wyoming being the first state to grant women the right to vote.
After visiting the depot museum we stopped across the street to a very historic building, now the Albany Restaurant. It originally opened in 1942 and is under the same family ownership today. The food was great!
Next door to the Albany is the Wrangler Store, a part of Cheyenne's culture since 1943. They sell ranch wear to local ranchers and cowboys.
A typical building down here. Such a cool area!!
That's it for today. Tomorrow, time permitting, we will visit the Quebec-01 Missile Alert Facility, the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum, the Wyoming National Guard Museum and the Messenger Museum.
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