Gozaic of the Week: Tracks Across Wyoming

As travelers picked up their lives and headed out West— whether it was on the Oregon Trail or the transcontinental railroad—passing through Wyoming’s southern corridor was a fundamental part of the journey. But for some, this piece of Wyoming became more than a gateway to a target destination. It became a destination unto itself, as those who came to work on the railroad were drawn to the tranquility and untamed beauty of the region and decided to claim it as home. The communities they founded and the trails and landscape that left such a remarkable impression on them can be seen by visitors who explore the Tracks Across Wyoming heritage area today.

History
Before the transcontinental railroad, Native Americans populated this southern patch of Wyoming, and wildlife such as buffalo and antelope grazed freely. During the 19th century, an influx of immigrants and travelers flowed through on the Oregon, California, Mormon Handcart, Pony Express, Overland and Cherokee Trails, all of which carried passengers through southern Wyoming. But it wasn’t until the creation of the transcontinental railroad, the Union Pacific in particular, that real settlements began springing up. Most of these towns developed after the Civil War, and a select few had staying power. Today the towns and the wilderness surrounding them preserve the spirit of the area’s early settlers.

Significant Downtowns and Neighborhoods
The Tracks Across Wyoming corridor contains a range of historically significant commercial and residential zones that reflect the region’s multi-faceted past. The Downtown Cheyenne Historic District offers a potpourri of architectural styles, including commercial Victorian construction, and some buildings date back to the early 1870s. For a fuller perspective of early life in Cheyenne, visit Cheyenne South Side Historic District, representative of a working-class neighborhood set beside the Union Pacific Railroad freight yards, and Rainsford Historic District, an upper-class housing cluster designed by eastern architect George Rainsford. Laramie, home to the University of Wyoming, has a 10-block historic downtown and is also know for Bath Row Historic District, comprising four stone houses that demonstrate the influence of the railroad in Wyoming.

Heritage and Culture-based Activities
Spread throughout this southern portion of Wyoming are dozens of museums and historic sites that appeal to dinosaur enthusiasts, railroad aficionados and everyone in-between. The Historic Cheyenne Union Pacific Railroad Museum, housed in the newly renovated Union Pacific depot, is both a fun and informative look at Cheyenne’s history and the interrelated history of the railroad. The Historic Governor’s Mansion in Cheyenne is distinguished not only for its elegant exterior but also for the fact that in 1925, America’s first female governor lived there. The University of Wyoming’s Geological Museum in Laramie, offering its own “Jurassic Park,” and Fossil Butte National Monument in Kemmerer provide insight into what life in Wyoming was like before humans turned up. J.C. Penney Historic House in Kemmerer, a clapboard shop opened in 1902 as the Golden Rule store, is known as the first location of the well-known national J.C. Penney chain. Tracks Across Wyoming hosts plenty of rodeos and festivals through the year, including Cheyenne Frontier Days, the world’s largest outdoor rodeo and Western celebration since 1897, which will run July 23 through August 1.

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Gozaic (go-ZAY-ik). Noun. 1) The name of a website, Gozaic.com. 2) The fusion of “go,” for travel and the mosaic of heritage and culture. 3) The mosaic of images to illustrate the dimensions of a featured heritage or cultural destination.