9 Of The Most Enchanting Man Made Wonders In Wyoming
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Caryl
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Natural wonders sometimes overshadow man made wonders, especially in Wyoming where the landscape is so profound and breathtaking. But when you stop and think about the thought and hard work that go into the man made wonders here, it is truly amazing. Some of these man made wonders serve as memorials and some just simply make life a little easier. Here are some of the most enchanting man made wonders in Wyoming.
The giant head of Abraham Lincoln is located between Cheyenne and Laramie on I-80. The head was sculpted by Robert Russin who was an art professor at the University of Wyoming and another individual who was a fan of Lincoln's. The head was built to honor Lincoln's 150th birthday. It originally stood along Lincoln Highway before being relocated.
The granite pyramid was built by the Union Pacific Railroad Company in 1882. The monument was built as a memorial to the Ames brothers, Oakes and Oliver, who influenced the construction of the first coast to coast railroad in the United States. The monument was designed by architect, Henry Hobson Richardson, and the medallions themselves were sculpted by Augustus Saint-Gaudens.
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The American Heritage Center is a repository of rare books, manuscripts, and the University of Wyoming's archives. The collections focus on the history of Wyoming and national topics. The center was designed by Antoine Predock, opened in 1993, and is located in the Centennial Complex.
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The Swinging Bridge is located in Hot Springs State Park. The suspension bridge expands across the Bighorn River and offers a unique perspective of the Bighorn River and Mineral Terrace. This man made wonder was the solution to overcoming an obstacle that seemed impassible.
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The actual dam, the Buffalo Bill Dam, is located west of Cody on Yellowstone Highway. The water supplies irrigation districts in the Bighorn Basin. Daniel Webster Cole designed the dam that was made out of concrete. The Buffalo Bill Dam was completed in 1910 and at the time was considered to be the tallest dam in the world. This man made dam made farming in the Bighorn Basin possible.
Fossil Cabin is located east of Medicine Bow. It was built in 1932 as a roadside attraction on Lincoln Highway. This cabin is the only building constructed of fossilized dinosaur bones in the nation. The house was built by Thomas Boylan and is constructed of 5,796 dinosaur bones collected from Como Bluff.
The Oregon Trail is a trail that expands from the east to the west and is 2,200 miles long. The trail was laid by fur trappers and traders and became a wagon route and emigrant trail for those heading west. This man made trail became an important part of history that played an important role in westward expansion.
Due to the persistence of Carl G. Fisher, the Lincoln Highway came to fruition. It was one of the first transcontinental highways for automobiles that ran from the east coast to the west coast. It was the first memorial to be dedicated to Abraham Lincoln. This man made wonder made traveling from coast to coast by car a dream come true. This was a great alternative to traveling by train.
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Located in Cheyenne, the Wyoming State Capitol was built between 1886 and 1890. The capitol building is designed with stained glass, a 24 karat gold leaf dome, marble floors, columns, cherry staircases, and murals. The capitol is a prime example of a man made design that consists of a lot of intricate detail.
Can you think of any other man made wonders in Wyoming?
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