True West
“When you call me that, smile.” (The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains, Owen Wister, 1902.) Did you ever wonder where that famous line came from? Now you know.
Wister’s western novel takes place in Medicine Bow, my first destination on the drive from Rawlins to my next overnight in Cheyenne. (Well, second, if one counts the short stop in Sinclair.) The Virginian in the novel is a ranch hand at the fictional Sunk Creek Ranch, located outside of Medicine Bow.
Wister wrote the book while on a stay in little Medicine Bow. It’s generated a 60s TV series, several film adaptations and more. There’s a monument to the writer by the old Union Pacific depot (now a museum), and his log cabin from Jackson Hole has been transported to and re-erected in the town.
The town’s Virginian Hotel (1911) which took its name from the novel was once the largest hotel between Salt Lake City and Denver.
Besides Wister the Lincoln Highway is commemorated at the town’s crossroads as well with a post and a sign.
Following the path of the Lincoln Highway through Wyoming I spent a lot of time on I-80. One big exception was that day’s drive. I got off I-80 at Walcott and followed the path of the Lincoln Highway along what is now the US 30 all the way to Laramie. This was the most satisfying portion of my drive across Wyoming. Beautiful skies – truly the “big sky” – and many fine stops along the way, including Medicine Bow.
It is mostly open country. Wyoming is America’s tenth-largest state but has the smallest population. A flyover state? I don’t care for the term, but as it was, a good friend was indeed flying over on her way from California heading eastward as I was on my way on the ground to Medicine Bow. We exchanged texts somewhere due east of Rawlins, as I recall. She couldn’t spot the TT but did see generally where I was…
After Medicine Bow there were other outstanding stops with Rock River and Bosler being the standouts. Bosler was little more than a ghost town. I wonder when that school building was last used? I googled it but couldn’t find anything.
The last two shots were taken on the approach to Laramie. More Laramie (and Cheyenne) in the next post.
