The Wrangler Store

Above, The Wrangler store in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As I mentioned previously, whenever I am in Cheyenne, Wyoming, I make it a point to stop at The Wrangler store.

The Wrangler occupies a building that was built in 1892. One notable former occupant at the location was the Normandie Hotel. 

Above, The Wrangler has plenty of boots to choose from. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During a 1977 trip home from Shelton, Nebraska with my parents, we stopped in The Wrangler store. I got my first pair of boots there. I still may have them somewhere in the garage. I remember the store's interior was rustic in appearance. I don't remember how my parents happened to know about The Wrangler. 

According to Wikimedia Commons: 

Not that you'd want to, but it would be hard to miss The Wrangler in downtown Cheyenne. The three story red-painted brick building dominates a corner of Capitol Avenue by the train tracks. Home to some sort of retail outlet since its erection in 1892, the main building was joined with an adjacent former hotel sometime in the 1960s. Together the two buildings give you about 13,000 square feet of ranchwear and Western clothing, hats, boots and accessories to choose from or just marvel at.

Above, The Wrangler's famous hat room. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During my recent trip to Wyoming, a stop was made at The Wrangler store. I got myself a new belt and a lady friend a necklace. The sales clerk told me that the store was bought by Boot Barn fifteen years ago. They have modernized the interior of the store and it looked nothing like I remembered in 1977. As I have an account with Boot Barn, I was able to use my charge card. 

They still have a huge selection of cowboy boots and hats along with western clothing items for men and women. 

For more information, go here. 

July Over Already?

Above, the trip included a return visit to Devils Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This had to have been the fastest July in my memory. We're already at the last day of the month and August 1 is tomorrow and the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial begins.

Given the drought conditions in New Mexico, it would not have been wise to shoot off any Independence Day fireworks. Some bans were put in place (and some were ignored).

My month of activities started on July 6 when Mitch Geriminsky and I head off to Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota for some history exploring. We were going to leave July 8, but decided to leave two days earlier and just take our time driving through Utah and Colorado to get to Cody, Wyoming for the Winchester Arms Collectors Association's gun show.

Above, inside the Plains Indian Museum in Cody. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

 We saw some interesting places along the way, such as Flaming Gorge National Recreational Area. We stayed one night in Moab, Utah, which came in handy for me in scouting the area for when I plan to return there in September to help out with the John Wayne Cancer Foundation marathons. 

Above, the vacation included a stop at The Wrangler store in Cheyenne. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Other activities included touring the Little Bighorn Battlefield, Devils Tower and roaming around the Black Hills of South Dakota. We ended the trip on July 17. This was my longest vacation trip since the 2017 Great American Eclipse trip. 

August will be mostly noted for me by getting the Jeep repaired and the deck repaired, which is not as exciting as July.

The Wrangler and Home Again

Home again!

It was a long two-day drive, but I made it home last night. While leaving Albuquerque, we were caught in a big thunderstorm with accompanying downpours. It rained off and on most of the way back.

One of the things I wanted to do on the trip was to stop at The Wrangler store in Cheyenne, Wyoming. In 1977, I got my first pair of boots there. Whenever I am in Cheyenne, I make it a point to stop there.

I got myself a belt and a necklace for a lady friend. At the checkout counter, I was told that Boot Barn bought Wrangler 15 years ago, so I was able to use my Boot Barn charge card. 

Below are photos of The Wrangler:

Little Bighorn Battlefield Nat. Monument To Get New Visitor Center

Above, The Custer fight (1903) by Charles Marion Russell.

One of my "bucket list" places to visit is the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana. I tried going there in 1990, but the tent trailer at the time got damaged during a windstorm in Sheridan, Wyoming and we had to change our route. Maybe I'll go there this coming year. I have been thinking about heading there, Cody and venturing east to the Black Hills of South Dakota.

The Little Bighorn Battlefield is where Col. George Armstrong Custer engaged in a battle that killed 268 7th cavalry soldiers, civilians, and Indian scouts along with an estimated 60-100 Lakota and Cheyenne.

The National Monument is breaking ground for a new visitor center.

From the National Park Service:

CROW AGENCY, Mont. – Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument recently awarded a construction contract to replace the park’s aging visitor center built in 1951. The National Park Service is coordinating with the park's associated Tribes and stakeholders to develop interpretive exhibits that better tell the complex stories surrounding the landscape, site, and people. Work is scheduled to begin on November 25, 2024.

The nearly $14 million project is funded by the Centennial Challenge program and donations through the National Park Foundation (NPF), including a lead grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.

The new 9,000 square foot building will be constructed on the footprint of the old visitor center. Nomlaki Technologies LLC, based in West Sacramento, California, is a 100% tribally owned company of members of the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians. The new building will provide prominent views of the battlefield and will feature a roof deck, an improved parking area, accessible walkways, and enhanced visitor amenities to accommodate increased visitor use.

To read more, go here.