Kylie Louise McCormick is a historian in Casper, Wyo. Born and raised there, she returned home after studying in Roanoke, Va.; Berlin, Germany; London, U.K.; and Lincoln, Neb. She holds two BA degrees, summa cum laude, and an MA degree in History. On returning home, Kylie has dedicated herself to education and Wyoming history.
“WOMAN MAYOR IS JAILED, CHARGED WITH BEATING MAN,” read the headline following 1922’s Fourth of July in tiny Cokeville, Wyo. How had the town’s new mayor, elected just a month earlier on a Prohibition and law-enforcement ticket, found herself in the middle of a street brawl?
Historical monuments and markers often enrich our travels with information on a local place, person, or event—but each marker also hints at the thinking of whoever set it there in the first place. The formal marking of historic spots in Wyoming dates back before statehood, and the process continues today.
A few people in Wyoming know the secret behind their state flag. They will give a knowing smile, as they nod, yes—that bison wasn’t always hitched to the staff, he used to survey over the mountains and prairie. But the flag holds more secrets in its weave . . .
