Category Archives: Wyoming History Day

Pieces of the Hindenburg: Treasure Hunting in Wyoming

While doing research in 2013 at the American Heritage Center for the National History Day competition, I came across an amazing discovery. Many History Day students strategically (and wisely) first pick a collection at the AHC and then base their … Continue reading

Posted in Aircraft accident, American history, aviation history, found in the archive, National History Day, Uncategorized, Wyoming History Day | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Black 14: Protests and Reactions

Martin Luther King Jr. Day—observed yearly on the third Monday of January—honors the achievements of Dr. King, a prominent civil rights leader who played a vital role in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination in public … Continue reading

Posted in Athletics, Interns' projects, Political history, Racism, Uncategorized, University of Wyoming history, Wyoming History Day | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Steamboat: Wyoming’s Wildest Resident

It’s Cheyenne Frontier Days, so a great opportunity to talk about one of the quintessential Wyoming images: a cowboy on a bucking bronc. Wyoming’s original bucking bronc was a horse named Steamboat. His origin story is a bit murky. Some … Continue reading

Posted in Agricultural history, Livestock industry, Rodeo history, Uncategorized, University of Wyoming history, Wyoming History Day | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hanna, Wyoming’s 1903 “Frightful Disaster”

It was a normal Tuesday morning in the Union Pacific Coal Company mining town of Hanna, Wyoming, when disaster struck on June 30, 1903. It was about 10:30 in the morning when coal gas in the Hanna No. 1 mine caught … Continue reading

Posted in Coal industry, Mine disasters, mining history, Uncategorized, Western history, Wyoming History Day | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Celebrating Homecoming with Cowboy Joe – A Wyoming Icon

October 1922 is attributed as the first officially documented date of the University of Wyoming’s homecoming. Celebrations included class reunions, open houses, a homecoming dance, parades, and of course, the homecoming football game. Wyoming football origins date back as early … Continue reading

Posted in Athletics, Homecoming, Uncategorized, University of Wyoming history, Wyoming History Day | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Connecting Wyoming at 41th Annual Wyoming History Day

Thirty-seven students across Wyoming will represent the state at the National History Day Competition this June. The 41th Annual Wyoming History Day kicked off with its first ever fully virtual state competition on April 22. And on May 3, the … Continue reading

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A Wyoming Valentine in Pictures

If one is searching for Wyoming photographs that celebrate the holidays, look no further than the Ludwig & Svenson Studio Collection. A close second for holiday photos is the photographic collection of Lora Webb Nichols. Henning Svenson arrived in the … Continue reading

Posted in community collections, Current events, Holidays, Photographic collections, Uncategorized, Wyoming History Day | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Joseph O’Mahoney, FDR, and “Court Packing”

The topic of “packing” the U.S. Supreme Court has become a hot button issue in the 2020 presidential campaign. But this isn’t the first time members of the federal government and the public have debated the matter. The Judicial Act … Continue reading

Posted in Political history, Wyoming History Day | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

UW American Heritage Center Receives IMLS Grant to Digitize Primary Sources for Wyoming History Day Students

The AHC has received $180,000 from the IMLS CARES Act Grants for Museum and Libraries to be spent over two years. The funds will assist us in supplying primary sources to middle and high school students competing in Wyoming History … Continue reading

Posted in announcements, K-12 education, Wyoming History Day | Tagged , , | 4 Comments