We had a leisurely morning, in fact the Wagon Master made an
announcement at about 7:45 am …. That was our wakeup call! We had to meet at 9
am for our car caravan for today’s adventure ... plenty of time for coffee,
clean-up and light breakfast! Our planned route today is a sort of square, we are going
from Devils Tower, through Sundance, to Beulah, to Aladdin, through Alva to
Hulett and back to Devils Tower. Our first stop was the Wyoming Northeast Visitors Center
near Sundance. It is a great place to get information. 
The bonus was the photo
opportunities they have … the laughter could be heard all through the center!
They had a horse that you could mount and have your picture taken! I think
almost everyone in the caravan did it!
There was also a TV there, playing movie clips of films that
were done in Wyoming. I think it has been too long for some of these guys
without TV … because many of them were mesmerized by it!
A life-sized bronze mountain lion greets visitors as they
drive up to the Northeast Wyoming Welcome Center, and two bronze fawns are
nestled near the building’s front entrance. These three bronze sculptures are
the sixth project to be completed under the State of Wyoming’s Art in Public
Buildings “1% for Arts” program. All three sculptures were created by David
Nelson. His work was selected from a pool of Wyoming artist submissions by an
Art in Public Buildings Selection Committee.
Nelson specializes in sculptures of wildlife and the human
form, as well as contemporary life-size and monumental sculpture. He has been
commissioned over his 26-year career to create site-specific works for
corporations, public art programs and private owners. The life-size bronze
mountain lion was chosen to honor an elusive feline visitor to the Welcome
Center, whose tracks were spotted at the site during groundbreaking and
throughout the construction phase. Deer are also frequent guests at the center.
We went to the Vore Buffalo Jump, it
provides a unique insight into over 300 years of Native American History. The
Vore Buffalo Jump features enormous quantities of bone and stone artifacts that
are perfectly preserved, due to the Wyoming weather.
They are in datable layers and held in
place by the natural bowl. Within the site are the butchered remains of more
than 4,000 bison as well as thousands of chipped arrowheads, knives and other
cutting tools.
They have documented within 22 cultural levels that extend
downward to a depth of nearly 25 feet.
We had a guided tour by a knowledgeable fourth grade
teacher. She started our tour in the tipi that holds charts, pictures and
restrooms.
Then she took us to the edge of the site to share its history with
us.
We walked down the circular paved walkway to reach the
“hole” which is now covered with a building to protect the site.
Because only about 10% of the Vore Buffalo Jump has been
excavated, there is potential for decades of scientific research in several
different disciplines, archaeology, tribal ethno history, zoology, geology, and
paleoclimate studies. Dozens of technical study papers have been published
based on the data from the Vore site. Because it is literally feet from I-90,
the Vore Buffalo Jump is the most accessible of the major Plains Indian
archeological sites to the traveling public. Actually the site was discovered because
the highway was supposed to be over, the site, until bones were discovered
during excavation for the highway.
The Native Americans forced the Buffalo into a v-shaped
channel that lead to the depression. The men did the butchering while in the
hole, the women did the drying back at their encampments and the kids and dogs
carried the meat, hides, and bones they used the at least three-miles back to
the encampment.
Speaking of the dogs, we learned that the only beast of
burden the Plains Indian Tribes had were dogs. Dogs, the first domesticated animals
in North America, were used for hunting, hauling, transporting, guarding
campsites and a food source. Breeding dogs with wolves was common, this made a
stronger and larger dog that is half dog and half wolf. Five canine skulls have
been found at the site. These skulls provided evidence that the Native Americans
filed down the canine teeth of their dogs … presumably to prevent the dogs from
injuring their owners or other dogs.
The Spirit Highway showcases 300 years of Native American
history, much like tree rings, the layers within the Buffalo Jump tell a tale
of weather cycles, ecological change and human history. We passed these big piles of hay, not sure how and why they are piled this way. We saw many in the field and even many piled along the edge of the field like you would put rolled hay. Any farmers know anything?
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| photo credit Pintrest |
We were running behind and missed our chance to visit the 120 year-old general store located in
Aladdin. It has stood the test of time along the Spirit Highway. Since the days
when Aladdin was a coal-mining town, store proprietors have greeted passerby
with food, beverages and a uniquely Wyoming experience.
We did pass another Ghost Town.
Hulett lies at the heart of the Spirit Highway. Nestled
along the Belle Fourche River against scenic red bluffs, the community is a
travlerer’s paradise. Life happens at a slower pace there. Friendly locals
eagerly share their “insider’s view” on everything from the best views to the
finest food. They cater to the travelers’ desire to take the road less traveled
and explore the area’s unique features.
“Ham & Jam” came early to Hulett this year! It is
normally the Wednesday of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally … but they all seem to
be here today! The annual “Ham & Jam” features burn-outs, live music and
BBQ, plus thousands of people. We had a lunch off the menu at the Ponderosa Café in Hulett.
Chef Dean serves outstanding gourmet meals at home town prices and offers a
wide variety of choices from the dining room’s fresh, seasonal menus to
familiar favorites in the bar. We had the whole menu to choose from, including Buffalo
Bill (their take on a sloppy joe with Buffalo meat), a summer salad with
Salmon, hamburgers and wraps. It is amazing that with hundreds of bikers
outside they kept a room reserved for us and treated us like we were the only
guests there. Our server was outstanding, handling our rowdy bunch single
handedly!
We took the Spirit Highway back to Devils Tower KOA. We will
continue on the Spirit Highway tomorrow when we make our next move.
We enjoyed a Yankee Supper of Hotdogs, Cowboy Beans and
Chili.
We sat around the campfire eat, shared stories and had our road log
review for our travel tomorrow.
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