Wandering around Cheyenne

This morning and early afternoon we wandered around Cheyenne, a city of about 60,000 people with about 90,000 in the metro area.  Cheyenne was founded when the Union Pacific Railroad picked this area as the place to cross  Crow Creek, a tributary of the South Platte River.  It was named for the  Cheyenne Indian Nation. 

Today was "Super Day" in Cheyenne, a big event celebrating outdoor recreation at one of the city parks.  It was packed. We drove near the park looking for a parking place (I didn't want to have to walk too far because of my newly repaired knee) but had to give up.  Looked like fun, though, with lots of displays and activities. I think most of Cheyenne was there.

We did, however, successfully renew our brew pub tour with lunch at a Cheyenne pub called Shadows Brewing Company.   

In other exciting news, there was a tornado watch out for part of the evening, and a tornado warning for some nearby counties.  I told Jim before he goes to bed he has to have his shoes, a flash light, and Cooper's leash nearby.  Then if our iPhone tornado app goes off, we're making a run for the restroom, which is the nearest sturdy-looking building.  It's about 9 p.m. right now, though, and it seems calmer.

The Wyoming State Capitol.  In front is a statue of Esther Hobert Morris, a proponent of 1869 legislation that made Wyoming the first territory or state where women could vote.  I thought Utah was the first, but Wikipedia backs up the plaque on the statue.   Utah women got he vote in 1870; that right was later rescinded in some sort of polygamy-related brouhaha, then returned.)

Tourists at the old train depot and now visitors center, taking photos at one  the oversized and decorated cowboy boots seen around the city.

A downtown Cheyenne ranch wear store on the corner of Capitol Avenue and 15th Street.  

Looking down 15th Street.

There's a shootout six days a week not far from the visitors center.  Here one of the shooters (I think, because we didn't stay for the actual shootin' part) talks with a kid from the audience who is either Jerry Mather's grandson or a Beaver doppelganger.