‘2012 Journey’ Category
» posted on Tuesday, September 18th, 2012 by Linda Lou Burton
No Shy Anns Here
Linda Burton posting from Cheyenne, Wyoming – When you think of women of the American West, do Annie Oakley and Calamity Jane come to mind? Back in the 50’s Doris Day portrayed both of them in film, and in song; women who seemed to have more fun than hard times. Perhaps you temper that “buttons and bows, sharp-shootin” image with the knowledge of an ancestor whose hardships you’ve heard in stories handed down; women who buried children along the trail and struggled in a land that offered few favors. The truth is somewhere in there, and over on West 17th Street in Cheyenne you can learn about those truths in Cowgirls of the West Museum, run by modern-day women of the west who not only preserve the stories of the past, but who continue to shape the Cheyenne of today. I found another interesting “western woman” influencing the Cheyenne 
of today, and in fact the art scene around the world; it’s Veryl Goodnight, artist extraordinaire. I found her work in front of the Old West Museum on North Carey Avenue; her bronze statue of a woman by a wagon wheel is entitled No Turning Back; Veryl’s poem is inscribed below; a touching tale of women who “stored their silk dresses and donned calico.” In front of the Historic Depot on West 15th is Cheyenne’s latest Goodnight acquisition: a woman standing with umbrella in one hand and handbag in the other, as though she just stepped off the train. A New Beginning is the title; she faces Capitol Avenue with the state capitol at the far end. A meaningful view? » read more
» posted on Monday, September 17th, 2012 by Linda Lou Burton
First and Foremost
Linda Burton posting from Cheyenne, Wyoming – Wyoming may be the 50th state in terms of population, but it lays claim to an awful lot of FIRSTS. It is home to the first National Park in the United States (in fact, the world). The beloved Yellowstone National Park, in the northwest corner of the state, was created by an act of Congress in 1872. Wyoming also has the first National Monument – Devils Tower, in the northeast corner of the state; designated by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. The first National Forest – the Shoshone – and the first ranger station – the Wapiti, in that forest – were created in 1891. The first business west of the Missouri River was established by fur traders William Sublette and Robert Campbell in 1834, near Fort William in Wyoming. And Wyoming was the first state to have a county public library system. The Laramie County Library was established in 1886, when Wyoming was still a territory. Located in the capital city of Cheyenne and still in existence today, it is the longest continually operating county library system in the United States. » read more
» posted on Sunday, September 16th, 2012 by Linda Lou Burton
Look What The Wind Blew In
Linda Burton posting from Cheyenne, Wyoming – “Does the wind blow here all the time?” brought me a loud “Yes!’ from the restaurant hostess in answer. I’d just walked across the parking lot for my Sunday evening dinner with shoulders hunched against the strong winds, my jacket zipped to the top. Yesterday it tried to blow the limbs off my Christmas cactus as I unloaded the car; I ran fast to get inside the first of the double doors. And the doors have signs instructing “High Winds Please Pull Door Shut.” Even the little card-swiper devices for unlocking the doors have protective lids over them; you have to lift in order to insert the card. I need to find out about the wind fences I saw alongside the freeway, I’m thinking, remembering mile after mile of curved wooden rails that seem to be connected to nothing, but are everywhere, on the windward side of the road. That was one clue, for sure. And after all, I know Cheyenne sits high on the mountain plains; elevation 6,098 feet, the second-highest of the 50 capital cities. I picked up a brochure before I sat down. » read more
» posted on Saturday, September 15th, 2012 by Linda Lou Burton
King of Coal
Linda Burton posting from Cheyenne, Wyoming – Mile-long coal trains followed me into Cheyenne yesterday, a sight to see. I’m back to mountains now, the Laramies. Natures foothills were the dark green backdrop for the distant man-made slivers moving south across my westward view. Blue sky and silver trains; I stopped counting at twelve. The tracks merged closer to the freeway as I neared the city; they converged across the street from my hotel. Through the night I heard the muffled rumblings of the trains; from the breakfast room this morning I watched them roll. Where does this coal come from, I wanted to know, and where is it going? Wyoming coal. » read more
» posted on Tuesday, September 11th, 2012 by Linda Lou Burton
A Norman Rockwell Afternoon
Linda Burton posting from Pierre, South Dakota – “Here come the flags!” The little boy standing beside me stared big-eyed; his father coached him with enthusiastic phrases. “Just look at that! Flags, and the band!” I felt the enthusiasm myself; the high-stepping band drew all eyes towards them as they marched center street; the shower of candies flung from the floats brought squeals as kids scrambled to pick up the treasured sugar treats. It’s 
Homecoming Week at the high school, and that means, of course, a parade. I had parked the Scion on Missouri and walked to the corner of Pierre Street just as the drums came down the hill. The drums, and the horns; the floats and the firetrucks; the brightly painted vans and the dogs-on-a-leash wearing neckscarves of green, to match their owners shirts. A parade is all about showing off, marching right in front of the world to strut your stuff. A Homecoming Parade is a celebration of spirit; the spirit of the school; the spirit of the town. And the town loves to watch. » read more
» posted on Monday, September 10th, 2012 by Linda Lou Burton
Not A Bad Place To Work
Linda Burton posting from Pierre, South Dakota – I started snapping pictures the moment I walked in the door; the staircase straight ahead, the hallway to the right; the stained glass overhead; the rotunda, the vault, the murals, the flags, the dazzling terrazzo floor. My eyes could not decide just where to stop. It was light and shiny bright, yet colorful and warm; uplifting, can I use that word? I didn’t know which direction to go first; a young woman approached the elevator by the side of the staircase and I began to ask: Is the gallery open? Can I take the elevator all the way up? What is on the floor below? I realized as I gestured that I had the Self Guided Tour Script of the South Dakota State Capitol under my arm; “Oh, I’m sorry!” I said. “I picked this up at the front door, I should slow down and read it. But everything is so pretty I got overawed.” “I know,” she smiled at me and folded her hands across her tummy; she was pregnant and enveloped with that pregnant glow. “I love working in this beautiful place. I look forward to coming inside every morning.” Quite an endorsement for a building, I’d say. » read more
» posted on Sunday, September 9th, 2012 by Linda Lou Burton
Just Watch
Linda Burton posting from Pierre, South Dakota – It stands to reason. There’s a lake just outside town that stretches clear to North Dakota. The river at the city’s edge is the longest river in the United States. With all that, you’d expect a fair amount of waterfowl would choose to live around Pierre, and it does. Gulls and ducks are common sights; I couldn’t name them myself, but birders have identified
Sabine, Ring-billed and the Black-hooded Bonaparte gulls near Oahe Dam; the list of ducks includes Red-breasted Mergansers, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, and assorted little puddle ducks. You might even spot a rare yellow-billed loon, or a Pomerine Jaeger, aka Skua, a very aggressive Arctic bird (right). Because it’s not just the live-ins you get to see around here, South Dakota is “on the route” as millions of birds follow the Central migratory flyway across the state in spring and fall. Paradise for birdwatchers, paradise for birds. » read more
» posted on Saturday, September 8th, 2012 by Linda Lou Burton
Across The River
From A Hilltop in Fort Pierre
Linda Burton posting from Pierre, South Dakota – From missionaries to movie makers, fur traders to cattle ranchers, expeditionists to archeologists, they have come to Fort Pierre. Fort Pierre lies just across the Missouri River from the capital city of Pierre, but it’s a major crossing, moving you back in time. Literally, right in the middle of the river you change from the Central Time Zone into Mountain Time. And with a little imagination, you can historically go back hundreds of years. Can you imagine the Lakota Sioux living here, with hundreds of tipis and thousands of buffalo spreading over the hills? Can you imagine two brothers from France digging a hole high on a hill above the river in the dark of 
night, and burying a secret? Can you imagine Meriwether Lewis and William Clark stepping ashore to explore the golden hillsides for flora and fauna, documenting the west? You can still see buffalo herds today, and that secret object that was buried high on that hill. You can see artifacts and remnants left by the adventurers of long ago, and you can walk their path. And if your imagination is lacking, you can rent movies that will recreate the scenes before your very eyes. » read more
» posted on Friday, September 7th, 2012 by Linda Lou Burton
If I Were A Kid
Linda Burton posting from Pierre, South Dakota – If I were a kid with a weekend coming up, I know what I’d do. I’d butter up. I’d shamelessly compliment Mom’s cooking, set the sprinklers out for Dad, and even stop pestering my brother. For one evening, at least. And, most important, I’d lay my Passport to Fun on the table where it couldn’t be missed. Hint Hint. If all that failed, I’d beg. Oh, I know how to say “pretty please,” you bet. My Passport to Fun is a list of kid-friendly fun things to do in Pierre, a surefire way to eliminate those dread words “I’m bored.” Six places to go, and one extra enticement; get the passport punched at each location and receive a reward. But, OMG, I’m not a kid! At least, I’m not dependent on somebody else to take me where I’d like to go. I admit to having a kid’s heart, but lucky me, I’ve got a driver license and my own car. Now, about that Passport. » read more
» posted on Wednesday, September 5th, 2012 by Linda Lou Burton
A Capital Drive
Linda Burton posting from Pierre, South Dakota – Tony handed me three brochures — the Pierre Historic Homes Driving Tour, Pierre Hill Residential Historic District, and Historic Pierre Street. “Now you’re set,” he said. I’d been noticing the shady tree-lined streets in town; you know, those old-fashioned kinds of neighborhoods with sidewalks for leisurely afternoon strolls. Now I wanted to learn a little about the people who settled Pierre, and the houses they built. I knew the town was bustling in the early 1880’s in Dakota Territory days. So, I’d stopped at the Visitor Center for details. I decided to focus on the houses listed on the National Register of Historic Places first. To my surprise, the first house starred was built after WWII! It was squared-off and modern looking, built of shiny panels. Check the brochure: the panels are porcelain enamel and are outside and in; the house was built by Lustron Corporation to help ease the housing shortage after the war; there are still 38 of them in the state. Unusual. Next on the list, a sprawling three-story mansion on Erskine; built in 1885, it has its original parquet floors. Awesome. At South Washington I park the car and get out; it’s picture-taking time. » read more