Wyoming retirement
offers climatic and rural challenges for some, but if you love
wide open spaces, parks, and friendly people this could be
the right choice. Here in Wyoming huge ranches and a
rich western culture merge with some of America's most
celebrated national parklands.
John Colter, a member of the Lewis and Clark expedition, came to
Wyoming in 1807. Others soon followed and the Oregon Trail
became a continental path from the east to the west.
When the Union
Pacific Railroad pushed across southern Wyoming in the years
after the Civil War it brought many thousands of settlers to the
sweeping landscapes of Wyoming for farming and ranching. Wyoming
was admitted to the Union in 1890. After statehood, Wyoming
became known for other resources besides the traditional cattle
ranching, particularly petroleum exploration.
Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons offer some of the
world's most beautiful and interesting natural wonder.
About half of the geysers in the world - approximately 500 - are
in Yellowstone National Park, the first US National Park in
1872. This parks status came some 18 years
before Wyoming became a state. In 1906, Devil's
Tower National Monument of Wyoming became the first US National
Monument. This 1267-foot igneous feature with huge hexagonal
columns is a favorite with climbers.
Also notable are Fossil Butte National Monument. Here
visitors join the search for ancient stone records of fish 50
million years old.
