In 1803, the U.S. bought most of Wyoming from France as part of the Louisiana Purchase. The Cowboy State became the 44th state in 1870.
One year earlier, the Wyoming Territory led the nation and world in granting women the right to vote, later earning it the nickname of the Equality State.
Here we can follow the trails of both dinosaurs and cowboys.
One notorious outlaw, Harry Longabaugh earned the nickname “Sundance Kid” after being jailed for horse theft in Sundance, Wyoming.
The word Wyoming comes from the Delaware Indian language meaning “on the great plain.” The 10th largest state by land mass also has the lowest population of any US State, last tallied at under 580,000 people.
It’s tallest point is the 13,809-foot tall Gannett Peak.
Known for the spectacular views throughout the Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming is a nature lover’s paradise.
The Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has the largest continuous vertical rise of any ski resort in the US with 4,139 feel of elevation to the top of the tram.
The Devil’s Tower, the first national monument in the US, soars as a giant rock tower, seemingly rising out of nowhere.
Wyoming also boasts the nation’s first national park. Yellowstone is located on top of a volcanic hot spot, creating its famed geysers… plus mammoth hot springs.
Numbering over 1,000, the largest herd of bison under federal management calls Wyoming home. The American buffalo is the official state animal.
Speaking of numbers, the National Elk Refuge is home to almost 9,000 elk.
Photo by Jeffrey S. Pippen
And the official state insect is the beautiful Sheridan’s green hairstreak butterfly.
Wyoming also has about 40% of the nation’s coal supply and one of the world’s largest coal mines.
Renowned for its wide-open spaces and wild west history, Wyoming is one of only 3 states with borders defined by straight lines.
One little-known fact is that long-time Yankees and Red Sox announcer Curt Gowdy hails from Wyoming.
Another? The state’s popular bison burger has fewer calories and more protein than other red meats.
It’s also believed that white water rafting originated here on the Snake River in 1811.
