Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Last 2 days of the trip.

 First stop today was in Sheridan WY at the Trail End State Historic Site. This was the home of John B. Kendrick former Wyoming Governor and US Senator. Construction started on this home in 1908. The last of the family moved out in 1961. The house stood empty for 7 years and was about to be torn down. The Sheridan County Historical Society purchased the home and opened it to the public as a community museum.
 The rooms are authentically furnished.
 You could take pictures with no flash so my pics aren't to good. This was the 3rd floor ballroom!
 The maids room.

 Double sinks I'm impressed:)

 The view as you come up the driveway.
 Carriage house.
 View from the front of the house.
 Trail End is the only known example of Flemish Revival architecture in Wyoming.
 It sits on 3.8 acres of groomed grounds with lots of flowers, and English sundial, fruit orchard, rose garden and a wide variety of trees and bushes.

 Very interesting the house cost $165,000.00 to build, a normal sized hone in 1913 cost about $4000.00 to build. Building material was shipped by rail from all over the US and hauled up the hill by horse drawn wagons. There is Limestone from Indiana, roofing tile from Missouri, brick from Kansas, granite from Montana, woodwork  from Michigan stained glass from New York and marble from Vermont. In the winter the twin boiler could burn up a ton of coal a day. All of this is just a short trip away in Sheridan WY!!!
 Our trusty bus and tour company SouthWest Tour and Travel.
 A few of us skipped the lunch and went downtown to go to Kings Saddle. They have a museum full to the brim of everything western. We stumbled across it a few years ago when we came home from Glacier N. Park. You could spend hours in there and not see everything,



 My favorite vintage leather purses.



 Then wild Bill got on the bus and told us alittle about his life.
 It rained in Wy but not at home:(
 Our last night was spent in Deadwood. tour of the city and Mount Moriah Cemetery.

We stopped at Wall Drug and Al"s Oasis on the way home. It was a fun trip and now back to the real world. Hope you enjoyed the  trip in pictures. I'm not nearly as good a guide as Patty..........JMF

Monday, July 30, 2012

Day 7

 This morning we have a city tour with a guide on the bus from Great Falls. It was ok but I think we could have done something more interesting. She pointed out their schools, hospital and some historic homes that needed help!

 This is one of the falls around Great Falls MT:)
 The para plane followed us as we drove along the river.


 STOP THE BUS!!! no such luck:(
 Next stop was the Lewis and Clark historic Trail Interpretive Center.
 They had to portage their canoe, and supplies around 5 waterfalls around where the town of Great Falls is today.
 These were kites hung around the main area. I'm not sure why!

 A quilt!!! The Lewis and Clark quilt!
 I love the fabric with all the wildlife tracks on it.

 Is that enough pictures of the quilt??

 The painted buffalo.
 Lewis and Clark the dog Seaman, Sacajawea and ?.
 Furs from all the animals they would have encountered, plus they saw lots of bears.
 A very interesting place. Kids would love it there was lots to look at, and a trail to hike with a overlook and a cliff trail and an outdoor Amphitheater. You could spend hours there.
 Some scenes along the way to Billings where we will stay tonight

Wheat field.  We had lunch at the Staggering OX good food. They serve a Club Foot Sandwich which is a piece of bread roll hollowed out and then stuffed with sandwich filling. Otherwise referred to bread guts!
Just a couple days left..............JMF