Wyoming: The Equality State

Wyoming: The Equality State — page 1 — 4 WYOMING INTRODUCTION Nature had collected all of her beauties together in one chosen place That was explorer John C Frémont’s description of the land that became the state of Wyoming when he first set eyes on it in 1842 Since then many others have admired Wyoming’s breathtaking natural beauty As a result of this inspiring landscape the state enjoys a special place in the country’s history Wyoming is the site of the first land to be set aside as a nationally protected area Yellowstone National Park While many other remarkable natural regions are associated with Wyoming such as Grand Teton National Park and Devils Tower no other national park can equal Yellowstone’s historic appeal Wagon trains are a great way to explore Wyoming’s open plains During the trips adventurers can camp under the stars and listen to cowboy ballads around the campfire The state flag has a white bison with the state seal on its side The bison stands against a blue background The flag’s white border is a symbol of purity while the red represents the blood shed by early pioneers and the state’s Native American population The 1,267-foot Devils Tower is a sacred site of worship for many Native Americans According to legend the rock’s marks were made by the claws of a giant bear Yellowstone National Park became the world’s first national park in 1872 The state mammal is the bison the state bird is the meadowlark and the state reptile is the horned toad

Wyoming: The Equality State — page 2 — INTRODUCTION 5 Wyoming is located in the western United States It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest South Dakota and Nebraska to the east Colorado to the south Utah to the southwest and Idaho to the west Getting around in Wyoming is easy It has an extensive network of state and federal roads including more than 900 miles of interstate highways Wyoming is also accessible to travelers by air There are more than 100 airports in the state many of which are private airstrips Wyoming’s major cities all have airports though they are not busy by national standards Travelers of Wyoming’s highways are treated to majestic views of the state’s scenic landscape The state seal features a woman holding the staff of a banner that reads Equal Rights A cowboy on the left side and a miner on the right represent the principal occupations of the state The seal was adopted in 1893 Wyoming has approximately 2,000 miles of railroads Goods such as coal are often shipped by rail Wyoming Location Map Capital Cheyenne Interstate highways Mi 35 70 0 Scale 0 56 113 Km Population 493,782 Size 97,819 square miles Highest peak Gannett Peak 13,804 feet

Wyoming: The Equality State — page 3 — During Wyoming’s early days the state was an essential corridor to the West Most of the historic trails to the West cut through Wyoming The Oregon California and Mormon trails brought settlers through the South Pass of the Continental Divide in west-central Wyoming The Continental Divide follows a ridge of mountains that runs from Alaska through Canada down the western United States through Wyoming and on to Mexico The terrain was a challenge for the thousands of early pioneers who traveled through the region For those who settled in Wyoming a lack of good cropland made it difficult for them to earn a living Today Wyoming is one of the country’s most attractive recreational states Lakes and rivers are used for boating and fishing Forests full of plant and animal life attract hunters and wildlife observers The mountains and the national parks are popular destinations for campers hikers and backpackers Wagon ruts from the historic Oregon Trail can still be seen in Wyoming The trail which was about 2,000 miles long extended from Missouri to Oregon 6 WYOMING A small herd of bison spends the summer in Grand Teton National Park Each year approximately 2 5 million people visit the park Wyoming’s state song is Wyoming The lyrics were written by C E Winter and the music was composed by G E Knapp Many early travelers of the Oregon Trail walked the four-to-six-month journey barefoot The Continental Divide also known as the Great Divide separates the North American rivers that flow westward into the Pacific Ocean and those that flow eastward into Hudson Bay in Canada or the Mississippi River in the United States

Wyoming: The Equality State — page 4 — INTRODUCTION 7 Known as the Equality State Wyoming was the first state to give equal rights and opportunities to women It was the first state to allow women to vote and to hold public office as well as the first to allow women to serve on juries Wyoming also had the country’s first female judge and the first female governor Wyoming is also known as the Cowboy State This nickname pays tribute to the hard work and independence of early ranchers and pioneers Cattle drives rodeos roundups and dude ranches are all part of Wyoming’s charm and culture Wyoming is the real Wild West whose history has inspired countless songs movies and stories The slopes at Jackson Hole are the perfect place for people to relax during Wyoming’s winter months The state of Wyoming has a registered trademark the Bucking Horse and Rider People across the country associate the image with Wyoming Cheyenne Frontier Days is a celebration of Wyoming’s cowboy culture Rodeo events concerts and carnival rides are all a part of this yearly 10-day festival Connecticut Delaware Hawaii Maryland Massachusetts New Hampshire New Jersey Rhode Island Vermont and West Virginia could all fit within Wyoming’s borders at the same time

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