Casper WY to Denver CO: Day 2, 1 February 2018

Trip: Rapid City SD to Denver CO and Back, Trip One
Day Two -- Casper WY to Denver CO, 1 February 2018:  After breakfast, we loaded up the car and set off to explore Casper.  

National Historic Trails Interpretive Center -- Our first stop was The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center, an 11,000-square-foot interpretive center about several of the National Historic Trails.  It's located high on a windswept hill above the North Platte River northwest of Casper, commanding views of major historic trails.
National Interpretive Trail Center, Casper WY
National Interpretive Trail Center, Casper WY
When we got out of the rig, we could see the effects of yesterday's driving.
From Yesterday's Drive
From Yesterday's Drive
From the bluff, you can look west over Casper.
Looking West Across Casper From Interpretive Center
Looking West Across Casper From Interpretive Center
The area surrounding the Interpretive Center contained a lot of native plants still covered with snow lingering from yesterday's storm.
Spring Snow on Rabbit Brush
Spring Snow on Rabbit Brush
The plants provided enough cover for a museum-going bunny.
Bunny Headed for Museum
Bunny Headed for Museum
The heavy spring snow draped the rocks out on the surrounding prairie.
Spring Snow Drapes Prairie Rocks
Spring Snow Drapes Prairie Rocks
At one end of the parking lot was a commemorative sculpture for the Pony Express.
Pony Express Sculpture
Pony Express Sculpture
Nearby, beautiful little bluestem grass -- the native grass that covered millions of acres around here at one time -- bent in the prairie wind.
Little Bluestem Bends in Prairie Wind
Little Bluestem Bends in Prairie Wind
Here and there, snow lay trapped amid the spines of the yucca plants.
Snow Amid Yucca Spikes
Snow Amid Yucca Spikes
Spring in Casper was definitely unsprung.
Spring Unsprung
Spring Unsprung

Line and Space Architects designed the striking building.
Entryway to Interpretive Center
Entryway to Interpretive Center
Blowing snow was drifting off the roof and down into the splendid entryway.
Blowing Snow Sifts Into Entryway
Blowing Snow Sifts Into Entryway
These immigrant trails carried one of history's largest migrations as settlers left the East and headed to new land in the West of the United States.  Permanent Exhibits include The Oregon Trail, The Mormon Pioneer Trail, The California Trail, and The Pony Express Trail
We did a simulated Platte River crossing in a mock-up wagon with video of the trail boss leading us on; the good news is we didn't get stuck like the wagon ahead of us!  This is a fascinating center with a stage coach, films about the migrations, and even a program about African-Americans who tried to settle in Wyoming after the Civil War.  They were ultimately driven out in the racist 1920s, and even lynched.
Story of Empire, African Americans
Story of Empire, African Americans
Ugly Wyoming History Right Up Front
Ugly Wyoming History Right Up Front
The dangers of the pioneer trail weren't the same as Hollywood led us all to believe.
The Way West -- Accidents
The Way West -- Accidents
The Way West - Cholera
The Way West - Cholera
And there's a tribute inside to the Pony Express as well.
Pony Express Rider
Pony Express Rider
The best book I've read about the Oregon Trail is The Oregon Trail, A New American Journey by Rinker Buck.  In 2011, he and his brother Nick hitched a covered wagon to mules and set off to retrace what's left of the westward path traveled by thousands of 19th-century pioneers. 
   
Lovely Lunch -- Then we took a break for lunch at Eggingtons in downtown Casper.  The food was delightful as was the service.  We had plenty to take along for a late dinner at our Denver hotel.  Highly recommended!

Nicolaysen Art Museum -- Casper is home to a sophisticated art museum -- the Nicolaysen.
Nicolaysen Museum Gift Shop and Entrance
Nicolaysen Museum Gift Shop and Entrance
The entryway had some wonderful pieces, including this bison sculpture called "Shards of Sand' by Jennifer Champlin.
Bison Head Section of Jennifer Champlin's Sculpture
Bison Head Section of Jennifer Champlin's Sculpture
Also near the entrance was this sculpture in alabaster by Mike Toledo.
Untitled Alabaster, by Mike Toledo
Untitled Alabaster, by Mike Toledo
Nearby was this lovely pair of beaded moccasins.
Beaded Moccasins
Beaded Moccasins
We also passed a lovely oil painting, "Leaning Aspens" by Maia Leisz.
Leaning Aspens by Maia Leisz (Oil Painting)
Leaning Aspens by Maia Leisz (Oil Painting)
Carl Link -- The Carl Link collection includes approximately 2,000 drawings and works on paper by the German-America artist, commercial illustrator, and art educator. Inside the Studio was a small sampling of the collection -- charming drawings of the faces of people from all walks of life.
 Man's Face by Carl Link
Man's Face by Carl Link
Woman's Face by Carl Link
Woman's Face by Carl Link
Lucas Foglia -- Photographer Lucas Foglia had a wonderful exhibit in what many would consider a palatial space for an exhibit, especially in a regional museum
Large Gallery for Lucas Foglia Photo Exhibit
Large Gallery for Lucas Foglia Photo Exhibit
As he says "In 2009, I went to Wyoming to visit a friend who had just moved there. The landscape was bigger and harsher than anywhere I had ever been, and I stayed to photograph. Beginning a new series, I wanted to see how a wild American landscape is transformed by the people who live and depend on it."
"Stanley" by Lucas Foglia (Photo Section)
"Stanley" by Lucas Foglia (Photo Section)
"Jewett Elk Feeding"  by Lucas Foglia (Photo Section)
"Jewett Elk Feeding" by Lucas Foglia (Photo Section)
And Others -- The Nicolaysen holdings are diverse.  There was a wonderful sketch by Charles M. Russell depicting Father DeSmet.
"Father De Smet" by Charles M. Russell (drawing)
"Father De Smet" by Charles M. Russell (drawing)
A French oil painter did an Impressionist-style piece of the Paris Opera.
"Place De L'Opera" by Antoine Blanchard (acrylic, 1978)
"Place De L'Opera" by Antoine Blanchard (acrylic, 1978)
And another artist, James Bama was represented by a soulful lithograph of a working cowboy, Ken Hunder.
"Working Cowboy" by James Bama (lithograph)
"Working Cowboy" by James Bama (lithograph)
We also enjoyed the Native American beadwork exhibit and the sculpture throughout the grounds.

Platte River Commons and Three Crowns Golf Course -- Our next stop was, of all places, a golf course.  Brian had a meeting at the Casper branch office of the University of Wyoming's Wyoming Technology Business Center.  The office is in the old headquarters of the former Standard Oil Refinery, built around 1913.  

From the Visit Casper website:  "Once upon a time, there was an oil refinery near the North Platte River just west of downtown Casper that played a major role in the world’s economy.  When it closed in 1991, the site was contaminated with nearly a century’s worth of oil spillage, sludge and buried pipeline. BP-Amoco partnered with the Department of Environmental Quality and the City of Casper to clean up the property. 

Today, it stands as a shining example of how recreational development and the ecosystem can work hand in hand. Contaminated soils were removed, engineered wetlands and ponds were installed to remove iron and other contaminants, and over 2,000 trees were planted to return balance to the area.Now known as the Platte River Commons, the site features the Three Crowns Golf Course, the Tate Pumphouse, the Whitewater Kayak Park, the Bart Rae Learning Circle and numerous biking and walking paths. Interpretive signage explains how the rehabilitation occurred but the best way to appreciate the transformation is to experience it for yourself. "  

There are some wonderful photos on the website -- before and after pictures.  I walked the path in the howling wind; this is a very harsh climate with temperature extremes, hot dry summers, very cold winters, and constant wind.  Bravo to the thriving native plants that are providing wildlife habitat.  

Hauling to Denver -- And off we went down I-25 to Denver.  As the early winter darkness settled in, complete with snow flurries, we resigned ourselves to four hours of freeway driving.

Text by Louise.  Photos by Brian.  Text and photos copyright Goin Mobyle, LLC, 2018
 

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