Author Archives: ahcadmin

He’s Popeye the Radio Man

Many people remember Popeye the sailor man, either from the various cartoon iterations, the live action movie starring Robin Williams, or his beginnings as a comic strip. In the latter half of the 1930s, he also had a radio adventure … Continue reading

Posted in 20th century, 20th Century Broadcasting, Radio and Broadcasting, radio history | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Santa Fe’s Golden Gate Dining

It is well known that travel in the 1950s and 60s in America was highlighted by decadence. Everyone has seen the ads for airplane luxuries like cocktail lounges and sleeping sections—unfathomable to the contemporary air traveler in America—but the railroad … Continue reading

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University of Wyoming Commencement Exercises: Looking Back 100 Years to June 8, 1926

What were commencement exercises like at the University of Wyoming a century ago? The question might seem rather mundane at first, but when the American Heritage Center recently received a UW diploma from the family of 1926 graduate Carl A. … Continue reading

Posted in 20th century, Academia, University of Wyoming, University of Wyoming Alumni, University of Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Remembering “The Wyoming Trip”

Fifty years ago, I turned 12 years old, and America turned 200. Today, with America reaching 250, and me at the ripe old age of 62, I look back with fading memory on my participation, for the Great State of Wyoming, … Continue reading

Posted in American Heritage Center, American history, Wyoming, Wyoming Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Engineering Building Cornerstone Placed 100 Years Ago

On the morning of April 30, 1926, a ceremony was held on campus to commemorate the laying of the cornerstone of the new Engineering Building. The event was so special for the university, morning classes were dismissed so that all … Continue reading

Posted in 20th century, Ross, Nellie Tayloe, University Architecture, University of Wyoming | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Need for a Hero: Comics in World War II

The Golden Age of Comics Comic books have been around since the beginning of the 19th century, but with World War II on the rise, America was in need of a hero—a super hero. The Golden Age of Comics is … Continue reading

Posted in Comic book history, Comic Book Villains, Marvel Comics, Propaganda, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

2026 Wyoming History Day Contest Results

The American Heritage Center hosted the 2026 Wyoming History Day State Competition on Monday, April 20, 2026, at the Coe Library and Wyoming Union on the campus of the University of Wyoming. Students completed year-long research projects inspired by the … Continue reading

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“For the Use and Benefit of the People”: Foundations of the University of Wyoming

At moments when public institutions face renewed scrutiny, history offers an important perspective. The founding of the University of Wyoming was not inevitable, nor was it symbolic. It was a deliberate decision made by territorial leaders who believed higher education … Continue reading

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The History of the Union Pacific Big Boy: The World’s Largest Steam Locomotive

The transcontinental railroad was considered the Eighth Wonder of the World, as it was one of America’s greatest achievements at the time, and still holds the title to this day. The completion of a railroad that wedded the East and … Continue reading

Posted in American West, Railroad History, Uncategorized, Union Pacific Railroad | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

From Vision to Legacy: The Milward L. Simpson Fund’s Enduring Impact on UW Political Science

The University of Wyoming’s Milward L. Simpson Fund for Political Science is more than a scholarship endowment or lecture fund – it’s a living legacy of civic service and academic ambition that has shaped the university for over half a … Continue reading

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