Lucas Fralick

Lucas Fralick is program coordinator for Wyoming Humanities and holds a master’s degree in history from the University of Wyoming. He lives on a hobby farm in Gillette, Wyo., which he uses as a base to search for birds and read good books.

Protecting Public Land: Frank Mondell, Theodore Roosevelt and Devils Tower National Monument

Shortly after Congress gave him the power to do so, President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 created the nation’s first national monument at Devils Tower. Wyoming’s lone congressman, Frank Mondell, fearing federal overreach and always in favor of developing, not protecting, public land was distinctly unenthusiastic about the move.

Frank Mondell: A Congressman for his Times

Frank Mondell’s popularity and political wit propelled him to represent Wyoming on the national stage for 13 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Yet his legislation and political maneuvering concerning irrigation, dry farming and tribal land appropriation left a murky legacy. Read more about his life in politics.