There are so many things to love about the state of Wyoming. Whether you live here or you’re just visiting the Cowboy State, there are some amazing places and fun things to do. If you love places with history, you will absolutely adore Wyoming.

Wyoming, otherwise known as the Equality State, became the 44th state on July 10, 1890. It became the first state to grant women the right to vote when John Campbell, Wyoming’s first territorial Governor, signed the bill in 1869. In 1870, Esther Hobart Morris was appointed the first woman Justice of the Peace, Martha Symons Boies Atkinson was appointed the first woman bailiff in American history, and the first all woman jury was sworn in. Nellie Tayloe Ross served as the first woman governor in the United States when she was elected to complete her husband’s term when he died in office.

Wyoming is home to a few of our country’s firsts as well. Yellowstone became the first National Park in the world in 1872. In 1891, President Benjamin Harris signed an act, making Shoshone National Forest the first in the United States. Devils Tower was designated by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 to be the first National Monument.

There are many famous people that are associated with Wyoming, such as Butch Cassidy, Buffalo Bill, and the Sundance Kid. You probably have heard of Curt Gowdy, John Buck or Chris Ledoux. More recently Ian Munsick, Ned Ledoux, Craig Johnson, C. J. Box and many others have made this state proud.

There are many ways that you can celebrate Wyoming and its 134th birthday. Learning more about its history or reading a book based in Wyoming are fun ways to celebrate. Some of my favorite books about Wyoming are “Wyoming, From Territory to Statehood” by Lewis L. Gould and “A few Interested Residents, Wyoming Historical Markers and Monuments” by Mike Jording. All of the books mentioned are located at the Lincoln County Library.

Visit a historical site such as Hole-in-the Wall, the remote hideout of outlaws Jesse James, Butch Cassidy, and the Sundance Kid, to get a glimpse of history. Register Cliff, located near Guernsey, and Independence Rock, near Casper, are both amazing places to check out if you love learning about the Oregon Trail.

Other fun ways to celebrate are by visiting a National Park, taking part in a rodeo, or head on down to Laramie’s Jubilee Days!

A big, happy birthday to the state of Wyoming!