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Indigenous People in Wyoming and the West

Who was Lucretia Marchbanks?

Lucretia Marchbanks experienced her first gold rush as an enslaved woman on the California Trail—it wouldn’t be her last. After the Civil War, gold rushes again brought her west, to Colorado and finally Deadwood, where she found fortune and fame. Learn more about a self-made woman’s journey from slavery to ranch life in Wyoming’s Black Hills.

The Snow Chi Minh Trail: Don’t Blame Lady Bird Johnson

Wyomingites are well acquainted with the legendary stretch of Interstate 80 between Laramie and Walcott Junction. We have our own white-knuckle memories of that road or know of someone who has been caught in white-out conditions. This 77-mile stretch of Interstate 80 is notorious for fierce winter winds that blow the snow across the highway creating treacherous conditions.

Forty years ago, Cheyenne experienced one of the most catastrophic natural disasters in Wyoming’s recorded history. The devastating flood claimed the lives of twelve people, the youngest of whom was only 3 years old, and forever altered the landscape of Wyoming’s capitol. Read more about the most damaging flood in Wyoming history.

Near Death of the University of Wyoming

From 1890-1911, the University of Wyoming faced an existential threat when legislators repeatedly attempted to establish a separate agricultural college in Lander that would receive critical federal funding. Read more about how political maneuvering nearly killed Wyoming’s flagship university before it could fully establish itself.

G.K. Warren: The Explorer of Nebraska Territory

Governeur Kemble Warren explored thousands of miles of Nebraska Territory in the 1850s. This was no small accomplishment, given that the Territory encompassed most, if not all, of the modern states of Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Colorado, Montana and Wyoming. Read more about the explorations of G.K. Warren.

The Latest from Our Blog

Wyatt Earp’s First Gunfight Was in Orin, Wyoming

After admitting to fabricating quotes, Stuart Lake’s stories of Wyatt Earp are considered to be mere legends. But what if one of those stories is corroborated with a letter and diary entries? Author Janelle Moloney tries to uncover the truth behind Wyatt Earp’s first gunfight.

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Map shows of Wyatt Earp's frist guynfight location at Orrin, Wyo, with photo of Earpp

Teaching Liberty: 100 Years of Civics Education at the University of Wyoming

One More Day in Wyoming History

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February 2025