Thank Glacial Lake Missoula for Much of the West’s Landscape

 

Have you seen the magnificent, scoured rocks and cliffs that make the Columbia River Gorge in the Pacific Northwest? Or tasted the wines from the Willamette Valley wines in Oregon? Scientists say we can thank the massive floods from Glacial Lake Missoula in Western Montana for those landscapes and fine wines.

Glacial Lake Missoula and its catastrophic floods during the last ice age – roughly 12,000-18,000 years ago – are responsible for the amazing landscapes from Western Montana through Eastern Washington and the Columbia River Gorge out to the Pacific Ocean. Scientists believe Glacial Lake Missoula was formed by ice dams that held back what is now the Clark Fork River just before the Idaho border. These dams were 2,000 feet in depth and held back 600 cubic miles of water (as much as Lake Erie and Lake Ontario combined). When released, the flood waters’ force was equal to that of 60 Amazon Rivers. There is evidence that roughly 40 catastrophic floods originated from Glacial Lake Missoula, and giant current ripples can be seen in the hills throughout the region. Ice tore away soil, creating the scablands of Eastern Washington, and deposited mineral-rich sediment into the Willamette Valley.

Scientists say we can thank the massive floods from Glacial Lake Missoula in Western Montana for much of the landscape in the Western United States. Photo courtesy of Western Montana’s Glacier Country

For more information on Western Montana’s Glacier Country, visit GlacierMT.com.

History Has Shaped Fargo-Moorhead for 10,000 Years

Less than 10,000 years ago, Fargo-Moorhead was 200 feet below the surface of Lake Agassiz, a vast inland sea formed at the end of the last ice age. Over centuries, the waters receded, leaving 2 meters of rich, black soil that today makes the Red River Valley one of the world’s most fertile farmlands, with Fargo and Moorhead as its center.

It may not have long ski runs or tall summits, but Fargo’s wide-open sky and flat prairie surroundings still make for some great outdoor adventures. You can kayak or fish on the Red River, or cross-country ski, golf, ice skate, bike, mountain bike or just hang out in one of Fargo’s many parks.

Dive into the history of the area by stopping by Bonanzaville USA. A history complex in West Fargo, the Cass County Historical Society Museum is made up of 40 buildings on 12 acres. Many of the buildings are historic structures from the region and have their own story. Explore the history of the Red River Valley, from Native Americans to the modernization of America.

The Cass County Historical Society Museum is made up of 40 historic buildings on 12 acres in West Fargo. Photo courtesy of Fargo-Moorhead CVB

For more information on Fargo-Moorhead, visit www.VisitFargoMoorhead.org.

Denver’s Rich History From Native Land To Vibrant City

Denver, Colorado’s capital city, has a rich and fascinating history that dates back to the mid-19th century. The area where Denver now stands was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Arapaho and Cheyenne peoples.

In 1858, gold was discovered in the South Platte River valley, sparking the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush. This led to a large influx of settlers, who established the town of Denver City in 1859. Denver quickly became a hub for mining and trade in the region, serving as a supply center for the miners seeking their fortunes in the nearby mountains.

It soon became a major transportation hub with the arrival of the Kansas Pacific Railroad in 1870. This further fueled Denver’s growth and established it as a major city in the American West.

In the 20th century, Denver continued to grow and diversify its economy, becoming a major center for oil and gas production and establishing itself as a regional financial and business hub. Today, Denver is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city known for its outdoor activities, thriving arts scene and booming tech industry. Its rich history is celebrated in the numerous museums, historic sites and architectural landmarks found throughout the city.

The town of Denver City was established in 1859 following the discovery of gold in the South Platte River valley, and today has grown into a vibrant and cosmopolitan city known for outdoor activities and a booming tech industry. Photo compilation courtesy of History Colorado Center and Visit Denver

For more information on the Official Gateway City of Denver, visit VisitDenver.com.

From Buffalo Bill Cody to Amelia Earhart, History Abounds in Cody

Buildings that line Cody’s main street and dot the vast northwestern Wyoming landscape illustrate Cody Yellowstone’s storied past. Here are some examples:

Built in 1841, Buffalo Bill Cody’s boyhood home can be seen at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Pahaska Teepee, just outside the East Entrance to Yellowstone National Park, was Cody’s hunting lodge where he brought his pals – including Theodore Roosevelt and the prince of Monaco.

Kirwin Ghost Town is an abandoned mining town in the high Absaroka Mountains and 34 miles from the town of Meeteetse, Wyoming. A short hike away is the foundation of Amelia Earhart’s cabin, intended to be her summer home before she disappeared.

Old Trail Town/Museum of the Old West is an enclave of 27 authentic frontier buildings, including one used by Butch Cassidy and his infamous Hole-in-the-Wall Gang. Barracks at the Heart Mountain WWII Interpretive Center show how incarcerated Japanese-Americans lived until the war ended.

The Chamberlin Inn in downtown Cody often hosted high-profile guests like Ernest Hemingway and Marshall Fields. And The Poker Church was built after a group of men gambling in 1902 pledged that the winner of the game would put all of his winnings toward the church of his choice.

Kirwin Ghost Town is an abandoned mining town in the high Absaroka Mountains, a short hike away from the foundation of Amelia Earhart’s cabin, intended to be her summer home before she disappeared. Photo courtesy of Visit Cody Yellowstone

For more information on Cody Yellowstone, visit www.CodyYellowstone.org.

Without the Railroad, We Wouldn’t Have Cheyenne

When it comes to history in Cheyenne, there is a lot of it. But if you were to narrow things down to the most important, thrilling and significant, it would be hard to miss the reason Cheyenne even exists today: the railroad.

Without the railroad, Cheyenne wouldn’t be here. Starting as a Hell on Wheels town, Cheyenne was platted back in the 1860s as a stop for the Union Pacific Railroad as it was being built. The town boomed and bloomed, becoming one of the wealthiest places in the world by the 1880s. The railroad led to Cheyenne’s wild, lawless history in the Wild West, the establishment of a military presence at Fort D.A. Russell and, of course, the cattle trade.

The Wild West is celebrated every year in Cheyenne through its cowboy spirit and various events like Cheyenne Frontier Days and the Hell on Wheels Rodeo. The cattle trade continues at local ranches to this very day, and Fort D.A. Russell has since become F.E. Warren Air Force Base, home of the 90th Missile Wing.  If you’re visiting Cheyenne, drop by the Cheyenne Depot Museum to learn more about this fascinating and incredible history.

Starting as a Hell on Wheels town, Cheyenne was platted back in the 1860s as a stop for the Union Pacific Railroad as it was being built. Photo courtesy of Visit Cheyenne

For more information on Cheyenne, visit Cheyenne.org.

Explore Many Types of History Firsthand in Casper, Wyoming

Today’s Casper has been created from a rich past that includes American Indian trails, fur trappers, pioneers, a thriving oil and gas industry, abundant outdoor recreation, dinosaurs and the Wild West. To truly experience the various facets of history, it’s best to explore them.

Serving as Casper’s historical anchor and providing the most comprehensive overview is the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center. Overlooking the city, entry to the Center is free and provides travelers with a look into the many people and eras that have made Casper what it is today. Interactive exhibits include American Indian history; the Oregon, California, Mormon and Pony Express trails; and their most significant landmarks, like Independence Rock and Register Cliff.

Touchable history can also be found on a trek with Historic Trails West. Offering a hands-on experience along the Oregon Trail, Historic Trails West has experiences that range from short outings to multi-day treks as guests get a firsthand look at the trail, its terrain and its history. The Casper area also has a rich history as it relates to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the Mormon Church), with areas of note that include Sun Ranch and Martin’s Cove.

At Martin’s Cove, you can try your luck pulling a handcart just like early pioneers with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Photo courtesy of Visit Casper

For more information on Casper, visit VisitCasper.com.

The Grand Encampment Museum is a GEM in Carbon County, WY

The Grand Encampment Museum is located within a historically rich valley in southern Carbon County, Wyoming. Open during the summer season between Memorial Day and Labor Day each year, this artifact-filled facility depicts the life of the Encampment River Valley from the turn of the 20th century. The museum, also referred to as the GEM, has more than a dozen historical buildings filled with artifacts from the timber, mining and agricultural industries that settled that valley.

The GEM plays host to several wonderful events, such as a History Symposium that differs in theme each year, a Living History Day that brings the past to life, and an Annual Historic Trek that can vary from visiting once-bustling copper mining building remains to a hiking into the mountains to an area where officers of the law were shot by now-famous outlaws.

Visit the GEM to read about the people that influenced our history and how they lived in some of the harshest land of the time, and experience a blast of the 1900s’ early history that made Carbon County what it is today.

Visit the Grand Encampment Museum in Wyoming to experience a blast of the 1900s’ early history that made Carbon County what it is today. Photo courtesy of Carbon County Visitors’ Council

For more information on Carbon County, visit WyomingCarbonCounty.com.

Exploring Thrilling Landscapes in Billings is Just a Walk in the Parks

Within mere moments of arriving in Billings, visitors become acquainted with the sort of American West landscape that is depicted in classic films and literature. After all, it’s hard to miss ancient sandstone bluffs that stand nearly 500 feet ensconcing the bustling city below. The Rimrocks, as the locals call them, are a place where visitors can make a quick retreat from the modern conveniences of the state’s largest city to breathtaking wilderness and views of distant mountain ranges piercing big blue skies. Three parks – Swords Park, Zimmerman Park and Four Dances Recreation Area – each offer a unique perspective of Montana terrain from atop the rims, ranging from glimpses of the mighty Yellowstone River to distant, brush-covered prairies.

Adventure further out and visit Bighorn Canyon. Just a two-hour road trip brimming with picture-perfect vistas, Bighorn Canyon treats visitors to astounding diversity in ecosystems, wildlife and more than 10,000 years of human history. The North District of the park, which is the closest to Billings, features about 5 miles of trails among dazzling canyon walls and Bighorn Lake.

The Rimrocks, as the locals call them, allow visitors to make a quick retreat from the modern conveniences of the state’s largest city to breathtaking wilderness and views of distant mountain ranges piercing big blue skies. Photo courtesy of Visit Billings

For more information on Billings, visit VisitBillings.com.