Why is it that so many people are drawn to the weirdest and strangest things? Wyoming has its share of oddities. Here are some of the weirdest things that have ever happened in Wyoming.
1. Shoes Made From Big Nose George
The Carbon County Museum in Rawlings is home to a pair of shoes that were made from the skin of a man known as Big Nose George. George Parrott robbed trains and stole horses. He eventually was hung for his crimes. After his death, Big Nose George's skin was peeled off of his chest and thighs and made into a doctor's bag, coin purse and pair of shoes. Part of his skull was used as an ashtray.
2. Greater Green River Intergalactic Spaceport
The Greater Green River Intergalactic Spaceport is a small public airstrip located just south of Green River. In 1994, the Green River City Council designated this airstrip as a landing field for inhabitants of Jupiter just in case they needed to take sanctuary in Green River due to their planet suffering collisions from comets or meteors. The use of this airfield has been restricted to terrestrial aircraft.
3. San Pedro Mountain Mummy And The “Little People”
The Shoshone Indians believed that "little people," who were between 20" and 3 feet tall, existed and that they attacked the Native Americans with miniature bows and poisonous arrows. This is mostly believed to be a legend but a 14" mummy was discovered in the San Pedro Mountains in 1932 by two gold prospectors. When dynamite was used to blast the mountainside, a cave was discovered with a 6 1/2" mummy. Anthropologists determined that the mummy was a 65 year old adult.
4. Emperor The Penguin
Emperor The Penguin can be found at the world's largest gas station, otherwise known as Little America. The owners wanted Emperor as their live mascot so they had him shipped from Antarctica. Unfortunately, he died while being shipped to Wyoming. Instead, he was stuffed and is now on display at the Little America hotel.
5. Two-Headed Calf
There is a museum in Wyoming that is home to a freak of nature. The Red Onion Museum in Upton has a two-headed calf as an exhibit. A cow named 'Spotty' had this calf back in 1941.
6. Shoe Tree
A Shoe Tree starts with one person tossing a pair of shoes up into a tree to be caught by a branch that is out of reach. Soon, other people are adding their shoes to the tree until you have a tree with many shoe decorations. Pictured is a Shoe Tree in Sundance.
7. Car With Two Front Ends
Check out this 1950s Cadillac! This car has a driver's seat and steering wheel on both ends. Which direction is it going? The car is parked out front of Perkins Conoco Phillips Station in Rawlins.
8. Mel Gould's Buryville
Next time you're in Cheyenne, you've got to check out Mel Gould's Buryville. His property is filled with a wild collection of metal art and vehicles. His workshop is located underground. This collection of metal art is located at 3558 I-80 Service Road.
9. Clearmont Jail
This is a rather unusual jail. This old tiny two-cell jail is located in the town park underneath the water tower in Clearmont. This was a working jail from 1922 to 1961.
10. Liver-Eating Johnson
John Garrison or Liver-Eating Johnson was born in 1824. His wife who was a Native American was killed by her own kind. Liver-Eating Johnson went on a murderous rampage of revenge. Johnson would cut out and eat the livers of his victims.
Can you think of any other weird and strange things in Wyoming to add to this list? Leave your comments below.
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