Due West

There are many odd and off the beaten path attractions abounding in this part of the country. One such sight is Carhenge. Looming eerily over the plains of western Nebraska, it is a cleverly designed replica of Stonehenge. A creation of Jim Reinders, Carhenge was built as a memorial to his father and is located on land Reinder’s father had farmed. Though I am sad to say I missed the solstice celebrations, I nevertheless enjoyed the experience of wandering amongst the ‘ruins’. And wander I did. Unlike Stonehenge, where the visitors are kept at a distance, Carhenge is open and allows for close inspection of the site. One wonders what those ancient builders of so long ago would think of this henge of the heartland.

If you find yourself with a free afternoon, take a drive out to Alliance, NE and enjoy a quirky bit of art, ruin, and reincarnate myth. At the very least you will definitely have a new appreciation of vintage American cars and the sacredness therein. (No imports were used in Carhenge).  Don’t miss the outlying sculptures, especially ‘The Four Seasons’

For those interested in learning more about ‘Henges’ and their significance, the Library has some items available:

‘Lost Treasures of the Ancient World – Stonehenge & the Ancient Britons’ (DVD)

‘Mysterious Britain’ (DVD)

‘Stonehenge: Opposing Viewpoints’ – Roop, Peter

‘Stonehenge Decoded’ - Hawkins, Gerald S.

‘National Geographic Magazine – June 2008′ - NGS

More Images:

Carhenge – Flickr.com

Stonehenge – Flickr.com

Western literature scholar Linda Ross will explore the effects moving to and living on the Great Plains had on its women inhabitants at an April 19th presentation at Rock Springs Library located at 400 C Street. Ross’s program, “Tragedy and Triumph: Women’s Lives on the Great Plains” is presented by the Wyoming Humanities Council and sponsored by the Rock Springs Library.

Sickness, accidents, death, drought, hail, wind, heat, blizzards, isolation, loneliness, distance, and the seemingly monotonous landscape profoundly affected pioneer women. While many lived lives of tragedy, many more were and are successful, defying the elements, the living conditions, and the isolation. Ross will explore these women’s experiences through firsthand accounts, including journal and diary entries, personal memories, and the works of Mari Sandoz.

The free event begins at 2:00 PM and is open to the public. For more information, call Jon Harwood at 307-352-6667 x2410.

Wyoming history is the focus of two books recently acquired by the Rock Springs Library. One is a comprehensive collection of maps, the other a photographic exploration of things left behind. Both would interest anyone with an interest in Wyoming that was.

As I was walking to work this morning, the surrounding winter storm brought to mind a few books in which the authors explore the possiblilties of snow. Whether building snowflakes or snow shelters, these books allow for that certain sense of wonder that comes with each snowfall.

 ‘How to Build an Igloo and Other Snow Shelters’ - Yankielum, Norbert E.

Though ice blocks may not be commonplace in our area, the reader may find this book useful when wondering about slab shelters, drift caves, and snow quality as a building factor. The author explores a variety of snow structures and directs the reader in their construction. Happy building…

‘The Snowflake: Winter’s Secret Beauty’ – Libbrecht, Kenneth

Perhaps you have pondered unsuccessfully, as have I,  the intricacies of ice nucleation and snow-crystal morphogenesis. Prepare to be enlightened. This book will answer your questions by deciphering those ‘hieroglyphs from the sky’. A well illustrated work, Libbrect’s field guide to falling snow is a must read for those who love the stuff.

‘The Snowflake Man: A Biography of Wilson A. Bentley’ – Blanchard, Duncan C.

The Snowflake Man is a biography of “Snowflake Bentley”, the farmer from Jericho, Vermont, who pioneered the technique of photographing snowflakes and who then went on to take over 5000 photomicrographs of snowflakes, ice, dew, and frost. Although his photographs were taken between 1885 and 1931, they have never been equaled and are still much admired today.– Most extensively researched biography on Bentley to date– Bentley coined the phrase, “No two snowflakes are alike”.

The Reverend Scott Shields is scheduled to give a talk about his experience with his Tlingit family in a special program at Rock Springs Library on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 2:00. The program is in conjunction with Rev. Shields’ exhibit in the Clarence and Mary Samuels Resource Room at the Community Fine Arts Center. The exhibit consists of Northwest Coast Native artwork including woodcarving and appliqué that he created along with clothing and artifacts. The focus of Rev. Shields’ talk at the library will include a description of the materials used in traditional clothing and accessories like harbor seal skin, ermine fur, felted wool, moose and deer hide and hooves, red and yellow cedar, alder and abalone shell. Rev. Shields will also explain how the Native people of South East Alaska are very unique from the tribes of the lower 48 with artwork and culture that does not really borrow from other Native tribes and each piece tells a story in their oral tradition. Shields will also touch on the interaction of the early Christian missionaries to the area who did not understand the meaning of totem poles and how these misunderstandings resulted in their destruction.

Wyoming celebrates Archaeology Awareness each September. This year the state is showcasing the Mummy Cave Site, located located in the Absaroka Mountains bewteen Cody and Yellowstone National Park. The Site provides 9000 years of evidence of mountain occupation as revealed by numerous excavations from 1963 – 1966.

SLCS has the following books on Wyoming archaeological history. Check our catalog for availablity.

‘Intrigue of the Past: Discovering Archaeology in Wyoming – Project Archaeology’ -United States. Bureau of Land Management. Heritage Education Program

‘The Bairoil Archaeoloical Project: 7,500 Years of History in the Bairoil Area, Carbon and Sweetwater Counties, Wyoming’ – Cultural resource series / Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming

‘The Mummy Cave Project in Western Wyoming: Report’ – Buffalo Bill Historical Center

‘Cowboy: The Illustrated History’ - Slatta, Richard W. 

Writing with scholarship and passion, Richard W. Slatta, Ph.D., presents an exciting and authentic account of cowboy life around the world. Stirring pictures by award-winning photographer Elan Penn and hundreds of evocative archival images take you on the trail with the cowboys of the old West and international figures of independence and bravado, from Argentina’s gauchos to France’s gardians. Whether it’s the types of horses they rode or the clothes they wore, you’ll come to understand what made cowboys from every country unique.

‘Violence Over the Land: Indians and Empires in the Early American West’ 

Blackhawk, Ned

Blackhawk (history & American Indian studies, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison) begins with the premise that too many histories written about the United States downplay the violence perpetrated by its citizens on native peoples. Through his study of the experiences of the various Ute, Paiute, and Shoshone groups residing in what is now Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, and California (the Great Basin), Blackhawk vividly demonstrates the importance of illuminating the consequences of that violence, which continue to reverberate today. It should be noted that Blackhawk, a Western Shoshone himself, does not portray the natives as victims. Instead, he demonstrates that their perseverance and ability to adapt to changing conditions over the last two centuries allowed them to help shape the world around them. This exceptional monograph is one of the finest studies available on the native peoples of the Great Basin region.

Whether native or newcomer, the Library offers the curious ample opportunity to learn about Sweetwater County – the towns, the people, the legends. The titles listed below portray many aspects of local history through memoirs, family tales, town sagas, and photographic essays. Check our catalog for availability.

‘Historical Images of Sweetwater County’

Gardner, A. Dudley & Brinkerhoff, Val

The authors style their book as a ‘snapshot of the people and places that make southern Wyoming unique’.  Through use of a compelling narrative and stunning photography, they succeed admirably. Those interested in a concise history of the area would find this work indispensable.

‘Booms & Busts on Bitter Creek: A History of Rock Springs, Wyoming’ – Rhode, Robert B.

The definitive history of the town built upon coal – Rock Springs. Aptly titled, the book relays the turbulent past of a city beholden to the vicissitudes of range, mine, and the economics thereof. The revised edition, published in 1999, covers the latest ‘boom’ – trona mining. An informative and thouroughly entertaining book.

 ‘Superior, Wyoming – Centennial  1900 – 2000′ – Richardson, Betty June

The author prepared this book for her classmates’ 2000 reunion in Superior. Gathering information from many sources, Richardson tells the tale of ‘Little Siberia’ and the mines around Horse Thief Canyon. Though brief, the author nonetheless offers a pithy view of Superior in years past. A most entertaining read about one of our local communities.