ENCYCLOPÆDIA Britannica DISCOVER AMERICA Wyoming The Equality State CHICAGO LONDON NEW DELHI PARIS SEOUL SYDNEY TAIPEI TOKYO
4 WYOMING INTRODUCTION Nature had collected all of her beauties together in one chosen place That was explorer John C Frémont’s description of the land that became the state of Wyoming when he first set eyes on it in 1842 Since then many others have admired Wyoming’s breathtaking natural beauty As a result of this inspiring landscape the state enjoys a special place in the country’s history Wyoming is the site of the first land to be set aside as a nationally protected area Yellowstone National Park While many other remarkable natural regions are associated with Wyoming such as Grand Teton National Park and Devils Tower no other national park can equal Yellowstone’s historic appeal Wagon trains are a great way to explore Wyoming’s open plains During the trips adventurers can camp under the stars and listen to cowboy ballads around the campfire The state flag has a white bison with the state seal on its side The bison stands against a blue background The flag’s white border is a symbol of purity while the red represents the blood shed by early pioneers and the state’s Native American population The 1,267-foot Devils Tower is a sacred site of worship for many Native Americans According to legend the rock’s marks were made by the claws of a giant bear Yellowstone National Park became the world’s first national park in 1872 The state mammal is the bison the state bird is the meadowlark and the state reptile is the horned toad
INTRODUCTION 5 Wyoming is located in the western United States It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest South Dakota and Nebraska to the east Colorado to the south Utah to the southwest and Idaho to the west Getting around in Wyoming is easy It has an extensive network of state and federal roads including more than 900 miles of interstate highways Wyoming is also accessible to travelers by air There are more than 100 airports in the state many of which are private airstrips Wyoming’s major cities all have airports though they are not busy by national standards Travelers of Wyoming’s highways are treated to majestic views of the state’s scenic landscape The state seal features a woman holding the staff of a banner that reads Equal Rights A cowboy on the left side and a miner on the right represent the principal occupations of the state The seal was adopted in 1893 Wyoming has approximately 2,000 miles of railroads Goods such as coal are often shipped by rail Wyoming Location Map Capital Cheyenne Interstate highways Mi 35 70 0 Scale 0 56 113 Km Population 493,782 Size 97,819 square miles Highest peak Gannett Peak 13,804 feet
