Buffalo

Well, "downtown" Buffalo is supposed to be like going back into the late 19th, early 20th century. No! Kind of disappointing, but we walked around anyway. The have some neat bronze statues placed around town. Among the more interesting was one of Nate Champion, the "hero" of the great Johnson County cattle war. It is interesting that the rustlers are the heroes around here.

The best part was going to the Jim Gatchell museum. Jim Gatchell was a druggist who liked to collect Western/Native American artifacts. Finally he had so much, that he donated it all and the city opened the museum. Unfortunately, no photos were allowed inside.

There were dioramas of how the early Indians probably lived, of the first settlers, of the Portuguese settlers, and of early Buffalo.

There was a chuckwagon on display, a sheepherders wagon, and a over-the-trail wagon. All were very small - wouldn't want to have too many people needing inside.

Ok, who knew there were Basques that came and settled in Wyoming? Any hands up out there? Never occurred to me that Basques from Portugal would come this far inland. But, when you think about it, I guess the countryside is much like their land in Portugal.

Another room held various artifacts and clothing, etc. What surprised us was that (on a bottom shelf) they had some of the gifts that were in the Wyoming Merci Car! The car itself is in Cheyenne, but on display were a couple of the provincial shields and about 8 small handmade items. See it doesn't take much to make us happy.

Also in the "more modern" era there were old bottles, one of which was a blue bromo-seltzer bottle from the Emerson Drug Company.

It is quite a diversified museum for such a small town.

BTW, at our campground, every night at 8 they sold ice cream for $1 a bowl. You had to bring your own bowl and spoon. It was a good time and we enjoyed meeting some nice people.

God Bless