As I was scrolling through the usual news sources this morning, I typed in, www.nyt.com in order to get my morning fix of daily political, business and cultural rant from The New York Times. How pleasantly surprised was I when the homepage featured a picture of a lone cowboy and a title that mentioned Wyoming. The article was actually a mini history lesson on the state, telling of the times long ago (early 1939) when homesteaders from Wyoming, South Dakota and southern Montana attempted to succeed to form their own state: Absaroka--from the Crow word meaning "children of the large-beaked bird." Whether the attempt was whole-hearted or simply "something fun to do" during a time that was less than cheery remains a mystery today.

However, there are details that suggest that Absaroka might not have been a total flop. To wit, a street commissioner named A. R. Swickard from Sheridan, Wyoming (the hypothetical state's appointed capital), named himself Governor of Absaroka and started hearing writs of grievance. Liscence plates were created and distributed along with pictures of Ms. Absaroka 1939 (picture courtesy of Sheridan Library). The king of Norway even made a brief state visit when he swung through the Absaroka corner of Montana.

The article goes on to highlight that the spirit of 1939 Absaroka is still very much there, even if the short-lived state itself is long gone. The area still boasts ranchers and farmers, many of whom have now turned to tourism to help fund their efforts to remain Wyoming cowboys. This includes the Double Rafter Ranch, which invites tourists to pay to be a part of their cattle drives. The ranchers claim they would be driving cattle anyway, but this way, they can move the stock, still keep the ranch and help give some perspective on Wyoming life to those who might not entirely understand what it means to live in "The Cowboy State." 

For locals and visitors alike, the article is a good reminder of why we live, work, play and visit a place that is still full of discovery, backed by a spirit of serious exploration and unwaiveringly dedicated to doing things that others might consider just a little bit crazy. Crazy like Absaroka.