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Wyoming passing through

Wyoming is a state of contradiction.

Its land mass is large: 98,000 square miles. Its population is small: 581,000 as of 2020. There is room for everyone, but historically it has been a place to pass through on the way further west.

The Wyoming Territory achieved statehood in 1890. It is the 44th state. It is known as the "Equality State" because it was the first to allow women the right to vote. It was also the first state to elect a woman as governor.

The Oregon Trail, the California Trail and the Mormon Trail(which ends in Salt Lake City, Utah) all passed through Wyoming. The railroad still passes through and it is one of the major drivers of the state's economy.

Cheyenne.

Cheyenne is the capital city. Like many of Wyoming's major towns it began as a tent city - in the mid to late 1800s - for those making the push west. A plaque at the center of town struggles to describe the architecture of Cheyenne and finally settles on the words "eclectic" and "commercial Victorian." I would describe it as functional with a dash of the old west of song and story.

Laramie.

Cowboy boots, cowboy hats, blue jeans, pick up trucks and Harley Davidsons fit the lifestyle supported by agriculture, energy, and tourism.

Freight trains that seem to stretch for miles carry coal and other commodities across the open grasslands, past grazing cattle and horses, to Chicago, Seattle, Houston and California. The railroad is a defining characteristic.

Center top: The Ames Monument dedicated to Oakes and Oliver Ames, Jr., backers of the Union Pacific Railroad. It marks the highest point of the first transcontinental railroad.

Like many remote American places, Wyoming has played an essential part in the development of the nation. It is a powerful force in the energy industry and its role connecting the east coast to the west coast is historic.

Driving the vast rural landscape makes clear the challenges of living in such rugged territory. The decision to live here adds another layer of difficulty to daily life. It is a choice that limits options, but at the same time offers a slower pace. Life in Wyoming would cause anyone to look at the issues of the day through a different lens.

UL: The North Platte River. BR: Devil's Tower.

I spent a week traveling the eastern half of Wyoming, an area described as the high plains. It's far from the tourist destinations of Yellowstone and Jackson Hole and the mountainous west. There is lots to see on the east side and you will leave with a different perspective on what it took - and what it still takes - to make the United States the country it is today.

For more stories visit ThisDecisiveMoment.com

© Dean Pagani 2022

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© Dean Pagani 2022

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