Wyoming Historical Society Trek

The Castle on Guernsey State Park's North Bluff

Saturday morning I will be visiting with members of the Wyoming Historical Society as they go on their annual trek.

Great Views are all Around at the Castle

This year the Society is treking through Platte County. I will be joining the group at the North Bluff Castle, then give a short presentation about the Civilian Conservation Corps and the building of the park over on the other side in the Museum. 

Standing on the Steps of Wyoming's Only Castle

After the Museum, the group will head up to Hartville for lunch and then tour mining and historical sites at the old Sunrise mine.

The Spectacular CCC Museum

I am looking forward to being a part of this great group as they take a look at sites in  Platte County.

The CCC Worker Statue at the Museum

For those that are interested, here is the link for my book on the building of the park. It is available in softcover or as an eBook although because of the nearly 200 photos I think the physical softcover book is better. Take a look and read the free pages. The book is also available at the Museum, Guernsey Visitor Center, and the Hartville Museum/Visitor Center and at multiple area bookstores and tourist stops. 

The Book

Cost to Build the Dam

The Dam as seen from the top of Spotted-Tail Mountain

Planning the dam at Guernsey took the Bureau of Reclamation several years, and when it was ready, the project stayed a blueprint for nearly ten years. At long last the sixty-eighth Congress of the United States allocated $800,000 for the construction. The bill was passed December 5, 1924, and the works were in place for construction.

Guernsey Lake - Photo from near the boat trailer parking area for the main boat dock

 Utah Construction from Salt Lake City was the only bidder.  Their bid of $1,200,000 was accepted and signed in early May of 1925. By late May, the company was at work. The work was started and the additional $400,000 needed was picked up by the Bureau until Congress appropriated more money for the completion of the dam later on in the session. By the time the dam was complete, the cost had run to $2,344,000.

Power Plant - Dam - and Gatehouse Spillway, below the dam

Read more about the park in my book  - See it here. 

Hot Days and a Cool Park

What a great time to visit the park - hot days and cool water make a great combination.

We don't do much with the water, other than walking (no I don't walk on water) along the edge. But it is cooling, we also love to visit the spillway, set on the bench and get hit by the mist - very nice.

Goodnight - Sunset in the park

The Spillway

Took along my personal photographer for a photo session at the spillway.

The lake will be lowering for the silt run starting July 7, love the photo opportunities when the water is running hard.

Resting up from long photo session

Guernsey State Park and the CCC

My book on the Civilian Conservation Corps and the building of Guernsey State Park looks like it will be available late next week. I am keeping my fingers crossed. I had to reformat after looking at the first proofs (I didn’t like the way some of the photos were placed and with over 200 hundred of them it was quite a chore) and it took me about fifty hours – ouch.

I will post more next week when the book will be live and for sale.

In the process of walking in the park, pretending to do research for my book, we found a number of long forgotten CCC camp sites. Fun to find, and it often took a bit of research to date things back to the 1930s. From this site, we were able to date a bottle to authenticate the time period to the CCC in the park.

We leave all artifacts, as found, but I do take many photos. Fun stuff. Hope you enjoy this little secret in the park.

When they start circling its time to go home

Vacation and Back to the Park

So where have I been the last week? Well, I have been on vacation. We went to Grand Island, Nebraska to see the Sandhill Crain migration.

Spectacular there were more than 200,000 birds, I would guess we saw three or four thousand.

We also went to the south-east corner of Nebraska to see family. I got to spend some time with brother, sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-laws and various others and had a thoroughly enjoyable time. Now I am back home writing and editing. Very nice to be back in the park.

Almost Dark tonight when I took this photo

I am also excited about being part of a documentaryAfor the Wyoming State Parks, Historical Sites and Cultural Resources. I have finished my book, still with a reader/editor, on the Civilian Conservation Corps and this is the subject of the new documentary. The CCC not my book.

The Cover of my CCC book.  The Worker Statue at the Museum

And, by the way, 85 degrees here in my part of Wyoming today.

This Evening - Never a Bad Sunset at Guernsey State Park

Several New Homes in the Park

Looks like some new building in the park. Not sure if these are for sale or rent but they certainly have great mountain and lake views. A Realtor's dream. Hopefully it will not be long until a nice family of Bluebirds move in.

We’re not sure how many new Bluebird homes are available but we spotted three. Neat addition to the park.

Wonder if this guy is looking for a new house?

Eagle in the Park

Here is day three of my five day nature photo posts - these I took today about 3:30.

Eagles are wary and hard to get close-up shots so I had to settle for extending the telephoto for today's eagle photos, I did get within about 250 or 300 yards or.

Against the Red Cliffs

Turning to see if I am still there

That will be enough photos for today

Couldn't pass up these three as I was leaving the park.

Here's looking at you

Pretty Peaceful This Time of Year

Looks like a bit of inspection work going on at the dam.

 

Always something interesting in the park, even at the end of October. It has been a beautiful fall and we have enjoyed walking, hiking and just driving through.

 

When the water slows to a trickle in the spillway it creates some interesting small waterfalls.

 



Seems to be a lot of these little guys in the park, and haven't seen any sign of coyotes might be a banner year for rabbits.



End Of The Day

Sunset at the Museum, and end of another work day for the Civilian Conservation Corps at Guernsey State Park.

Vacation Over

Two of my favorite girls on the beach at Claiborne State Park

Nice to be home in Wyoming again. We were only away for two weeks, but for us, that is too long to be outside of Wyoming. With my passion for parks we made some great visits to both state and national parks on our trip. Still think Guernsey State Park is the best kept secret in the west.


Little White Tail Still Has Spots at Claiborne State Park Louisiana - an outstanding park.

Guernsey State Park Sunset

The Narrows

Of Flowers, Fall and Sunsets

Summer might be winding down and the kids may be back in school but there is still some nice flowers in the park.

 

But how far away can fall be with some shrubs already deciding to change from summer green to fall reds and oranges?

 

Is there ever a bad sunset in the Park?

 

 

New Park Sign

New signs will go up on each side of the park. The one on the north entrance, is nearly complete. They haven't started the south one yet, but it will not be long.

These signs will not replace the tradition welcome signs but instead are interpretative signs about the park, the building of the park by the CCC and helpful tips for first time visitors.

Family Out for a Day In the Park

Guernsey State Park is a great place to spend time with the family. I couldn’t resist snapping a few photos of this mom and her little twins in the park Tuesday evening.

Mom & the twins out for a hike

and while hiking make sure to stay hydrated

Grab a bite to eat when you get a chance

and if that guy keeps taking photos see if you can hide

 

 

Reflecting on the above post, how about this reflective sunset over the lake?