Hinsdale County Museum

Wednesday, June 16 - we'd heard at the barbecue Monday night that the museum had been greatly improved in the past few years - we'd visited it 8-10 years ago. So we went again to see what else they'd done with it.  One of the biggest things they'd done was add a lot of outdoor exhibits and a transportation building - those weren't there the last time we went.

Inside, the first thing you come to is a textile exhibit - complete with a loom, spinning wheel, sewing machines, and samples of clothing from the days when Lake City was first being settled.

Moving on from the textiles we saw a collection of late 19th Century glassplate negatives from pioneering Lake City photographer Thomas E. Barnhouse.  These were photos taken during the mining days and were a fascinating look at how life was a century and a half ago.

There was still an Alferd Packer exhibit (see my previous post), as well as exhibits about musicians an music of the times, antique firearms, and an example of an assay office:

Outside was an example of a jail, which Don briefly explored:

Next, we visited the new transportation building, which had an old fire tender wagon, a boiler train, some wagons, and lots of old signs. Next to that was an old caboose, which you could enter and see in its restored condition:

Also outside was an old playhouse - and the placard stated that there are still Lake City citizens who remember playing in it as a child:

The last exhibit was a restored 2-room home, complete with a fully-equipped kitchen, and a bedroom/living room with a child's bed. The bed had this antique quilt on it:

We think the repeat visit was definitely worth the $6 entrance fee.

Geocaching around Dolores

While Don was fishing between thunderstorms yesterday, I decided to got try to find a couple geocaches that were in the area.

The first one was supposed to be an easy find - but, once again, I made the mistake of not wearing my hiking boots. In addition, as soon as I got to where the cache was supposed to be, I lost cell phone reception and couldn't get more information (such as hints and logs of other people).  It appeared that the place I needed to go look was across a small ditch and in some thick brush.  Oh well.

The second one was a "virtual" cache - you go to the coordinates, and then answer a question posted by the person who "placed" the cache. In this case, the coordinates were in downtown Dolrores, next to the railroad museum.  The question had to do with the Galloping Goose parked out front. I answered the question via email, and was rewarded with a response that had links to several videos about the Galloping Goose.  These were "busses" equipped for rail use to carry people, equipment and light freight between Dolores and Ridgway during the 1930s and 1040s.

The next cache was also railroad-related. It was along an old railroad bed in Lost Canyon, to the east of Dolores. I spent about 15 minutes walking along the wrong side of the creek, but once I figured that out it was an easy find.

Here's the old railroad bed:

Creede - Underground Mining Museum

In 1990, the town of Creede opened its underground mining museum. There's a gift shop, community center, restrooms, fitness room, and the museum - which consists of a "track" underground that circles the community room, with numerous stops that show a century of mining history. You can take a guided tour, or you can use a CD player that takes you to all the stops and explains everything. At right is an example of single-jack, where the miner tries to drill a hole by hand.



In the "lounge" area, where miners take breaks and eat lunch, is the "honey wagon." It was only emptied about once a week! Can you imagine eating lunch sitting next to this?

Example of a single-person elevator.

It's All About the Buffalo

Originally posted on July 8, 2007 on "Cookin' with Cyndi"

On Friday, we left Red Cliff Campground to go to our next destination near Cody, Wyoming. On the way we had to drive through Yellowstone National Park, where the only traffic jams were those caused by buffalo. This one held up traffic for only 5 minutes or so on the road between Norris Junction and Canyon.








This is part of the enormous herd that was sprawled all over the Hayden Valley. Near the Mud Volcano, we were stopped again by one stubborn buffalo who stood in the middle of the road blocking traffic for 20 minutes!!!!!! It was almost comical, but I'm sure that folks were getting a bit aggravated about the backup of hundreds of vehicles. We were about fifth in line, and could see him just standing there, chewing his cud, and refusing to budge. When he finally began moving, everyone who had been standing around gave sighs of relief and got back in their cars to move on.


After the drive through Yellowstone, we came out the East Entrance, picked up the road along the North Fork of the Shoshone, and stopped at our "home" for the next 8 days, Yellowstone Valley Inn and RV Resort about 15 miles west of Cody, Wyoming. Yesterday we did what we've been looking forward to for this stop, which was spend the whole day at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. It's 5 museums in one complex - one dedicated to the life and times of Buffalo Bill (William Cody), another to the Plains Indians (that was my favorite), another to the natural history of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, another to western art, and one to firearms. We spent 6 1/2 hours there - and probably could have stayed longer if our knees and backs hadn't started hurting from all the walking and standing. What a great place to go!!!!

I also located the local needlework store - Iron Kettle Needlework, and picked up some patterns and supplies. I want to go back when I have more time!

Don's already been fishing a great deal on the North Fork of the Shoshone - it runs right next to the campground. Right now he's upstream a few miles - trying out some spots recommended to him by the owner.