Day 35 50th at Laramie

Took a day off from publishing yesterday to focus on our 50th Wedding Anniversary. Had a relaxing day enjoying Laramie. Visited the Ivinson House which houses the Laramie Plains Museum. This magnificent mansion with carriage house is over 11,000 sq’ and filled with beautifully maintained artifacts from the area along with items that were original to the house. Edward  Ivinson married his 13 year old wife, Jane; made a fortune in banking and dry goods; adopted a daughter then decided to move west. The family stopped in Laramie where they built this crown jewel of the city in 1892 for $40,000. It had electricity and running water including a spa-like shower. There was a doll couple made in their likeness on display given to the Ivinson’s on their 50th wedding anniversary and since we were there  on our 50th, thought I’d include it in the blog. When Edward passed at 97, he bequeathed his house to the church which used it as a girl’s school until 1957. The church could not afford to keep it anymore so it fell into disrepair until the local women’s guild took it over in the ‘70’s and meticulously restored it. Later we wandered the historic downtown while listening to locals performing in a summer street festival. Though it hardly felt like summer  since it was only in the 50’s. There’s actually snow falling in the upper altitudes! Every time we left our hotel, we passed a giant 13.5 foot tall head created by an artist. It’s called “Big Twig Head”. She made it out of cottonwood bark to “give nature a voice”. Interesting yet a little creepy.   Finished our anniversary with a steak dinner at a “chophouse”. Checking out of the Marriott this morning and heading to Cheyanne. 

A knife sharpener

Wreaths made out of hair. The top one was from a deceased relative. The bottom one was hair contributed by a whole family every time they got a hair cut.  A lost art and that may not be a bad thing.