BBHC offers field trip for Fern-filled Fauna of the Bighorn Basin

Fossilized vegetation of the Bighorn Basin

From the Buffalo Bill Historical Center:

Dr. Scott Wing describes his job like this, “As a research scientist and curator at the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History the three major parts of my job are research, collections, and outreach.”

All three come together on July 9, 2011, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. with a plant fossil field trip to the Big Cedar Ridge in the southeastern Bighorn Basin. The Buffalo Bill Historical Center co-sponsors the outing—dubbed Fern-filled Fauna of the Bighorn Basin—with the Wyoming Native Plant Society, Washakie Museum, and the University of Wyoming Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center. There is no charge for the trip; however, pre-registration is required by contacting Emily Buckles at emilyb@bbhc.org or 307.578.4110.

Sign up May 16 for sizzlin' summer classes in theatre, local foods, archaeology and history

From a Casper College press release:

The “Sizzlin’ Summer Sign-Up” for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Casper College will be held on Monday, May 16 from 4 to 6 p.m.

The summer offerings include classes, day trips, lectures, overnight trips, and even dinner and a movie, according to Vicki Pollock, lifelong learning specialist.

“We have tried to come up with a wide variety of topics to appeal to as many folks as we can this summer,” said Pollock. “’Acting Up: A Hands-On Introduction to Theatre’ will culminate in a reader’s theatre production, while students in ‘Starry Starry Night: An Introduction to Astronomy’ will learn about the phases of the moon, how to navigate the night sky, and about objects in our solar system,” Pollock noted.

For those feeling a bit more adventurous, there are classes involving travel including “History and Tradition on the Wind River Reservation,” “Made in Wyoming: A Visit to Nanny Kid Farms,” and “Written in Stone: Old Rocks, Old Art, Old Tales.”

Lectures will include a look at the Battle of Little Bighorn and on Khe Sanh, South Vietnam: “The Battle for Khe Sanh,” and “Khe Sanh Revisited.”

“We are also offering some favorites of our OLLI’s including ‘Old Books, Fresh Eggs,’ where we will travel to the Mad Dog and the Pilgrim Bookstore on Highway 789, and ‘Olives to Olive Oil,’ with George Vlastos teaching on the benefits of olive oil, as well as cooking delicious Greek dishes,” said Pollock.

A highlight of the summer session will be the “Dinner and a Movie: State Fair.” “We thought it would be fun this summer to bring back memories of a summer night at the fair,” Pollock said. “The night will include a pie-baking contest, barbecue dinner, fresh cotton candy we will be making during the evening, and a screening of the 1945 movie ‘State Fair’ starring Dana Andrews and Jeanne Crain, with wonderful music by Rodgers and Hammerstein.”

The Sizzlin’ Summer Sign-Up will feature “yummy snacks and beverages.” OLLI members are asked to bring their membership cards to the event. Those who are not currently members of OLLI can join during the event and register for classes.

For more information contact Pollock at 268-2097 or Karen Arnold, administrative assistant at 268-3401.

Wyoming Archaeology Month poster wins national award

The 2010 Wyoming Archaeology Awareness Month (WAAM) poster, featuring the Tolar Petroglyph site, has been awarded first place in the Society for American Archaeology’s (SAA) annual nationwide poster contest.

The poster features a well preserved image of a Comanche warrior on horseback, elaborately carved into sandstone bedrock and strikingly contrasted with the dark natural varnish of the cliff face. The panel design is likely over two centuries old. The site is valued by several Indian nations as a sacred and honored place. The glyph used on this poster was chosen with the concurrence of the Comanche, Eastern Shoshone, Ute, and Northern Arapaho tribes, a cross-cultural collaboration that benefits all of Wyoming.

This is the thirteenth year the Wyoming poster has been recognized with an award from the SAA. The announcement was made at the SAA’s annual meeting held in Sacramento, Calif. Production of the poster was coordinated by Judy Wolf of the State Historic Preservation Office.

The Wyoming Archaeology Awareness Month posters are available free of charge and may be picked up at the State Historic Preservation Office in Cheyenne, 3rd floor Barrett Building, 2301 Central Ave. or in Laramie in the new Anthropology Department building, 2th and Lewis,Room 312.

If you would like a poster mailed to you, a $10 charge is necessary to cover mailing costs. Limit one poster per person. Send your request along with a check or money order payable to "Wyoming Archaeology Month" and your name and mailing address to: Judy Wolf, State Historic Preservation Office, Wyoming Archaeology Month, Dept. 3431, 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie WY 82071.

Tate Geological Museum hosts mammoth holiday celebration and "Dee and the Mammoth" book launch

Tate's Mammoth ready to party!

From a Casper College press release:

A festive time is in store for all who attend the Tate Geological Museum's Holiday Open House on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

According to Deanna Schaff, director of museums, the event will include the sale and signing of the new children's book Dee and the Mammoth by Gene Gagliano, author, and Zachary Pullen, illustrator. Both Gene and Zac will be on hand to autograph all copies sold during the open house, said Schaff.

"The book will include a documentary of the entire story of Dee the mammoth from discovery to display in DVD form, along with an audio version of the book, Schaff noted.

In addition to Gagliano and Pullen, Laramie ceramics artist Jodie Atherton will also be at the open house with a display of her unique dinosaur mosaics currently for sale. "These one-of-a-kind sculptures are about recycling, history, and the melding of art and science. I create these mosaics on plaster jackets that were used by the Tate to transport fossils safely from the field back to the prep lab," Atherton said. For every work sold, Atherton will donate 20 percent of the proceeds back to the Tate.

Perennial favorite Santasauraus will be on hand and those attending are encouraged to bring their camera for a photo opportunity with not only Santasauraus, but also the museum's newest member, Dee the mammoth.

The gift shop within the museum will feature 10 percent off purchases and free gift-wrapping.

The Tate Geological Museum Holiday Open House is free and open to the public.

FMI: Lisa S. Icenogle, Information Coordinator, Casper College, 307-268-2372

Gov. Freudenthal signs Archaeology Awareness Month proclamation

From a SPCR press release:

Governor Dave Freudenthal, citing “Wyoming’s enduring bond between past and present in the fabric of human society, recently proclaimed September Wyoming Archaeology Awareness Month during a brief ceremony in his office.

Gov. Freudenthal was joined during the proclamation signing by members of the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of the Wyoming State Archaeologist, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service and the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

During the ceremony, Gov. Freudenthal was presented with a framed copy of this year’s poster which features the Tolar Petroglyph Site in Southwestern Wyoming.

The site contains the well preserved image of a Comanche warrior on horseback, elaborately carved into sandstone bedrock and strikingly contrasted with the dark natural varnish of the cliff face. The panel design is likely more than two centuries old.

The site is valued by several Indian nations as a sacred and honored place. The glyph used on this year’s Wyoming Archaeology Awareness Month poster was chosen with the concurrence of the Comanche, Eastern Shoshone, Ute, and Northern Arapaho tribes, a cross-cultural collaboration that benefits all of Wyoming.

“This is a wonderful site and a great opportunity for visitors to see an example of Wyoming culture and history,” Lance Porter of the BLM’s Rock Springs Field Office said. The Tolar Site is located just off I-80 on BLM land.

The WAAM celebration includes the 12th Annual George C. Frison Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology sponsored lecture by Ted Goebel, from the Center for the Study of the First Americans at Texas A&M University. The lecture will be held at the University of Wyoming on September 23.

The 2010 WAAM poster is available free of charge, and may be picked up at the State Historic Preservation Office, Barrett Building, 2301 Central Avenue in Cheyenne, or in Laramie in the Anthropology Building located at 12th and Lewis, Room 312. The posters are also available via mail with a $10 charge to cover mailing costs. Limit one poster per person. Send your request along with a check or money order payable to “Wyoming Archaeology Month” and your name and mailing address to: Judy Wolf, State Historic Preservation Office, Wyoming Archaeology Month, Dept. 3431, 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071.

The 2010 WAAM t-shirts and caps are available at the State Museum Store in Cheyenne, or via http://wyoshpo.state.wy.us/pdf/orderform.pdf  Short-sleeve shirts are available at a cost of $16. Shirts in sizes 2XL are available for an additional $1.50. Long-sleeved shirts are available for $23. Add $1.50 for size 2XL. Caps are available for $15 and chef’s aprons for $20. Proceeds benefit WAAM activities.

For more information about WAAM, please visit http://wyoshpo.state.wy.us/AAmonth/Index.aspx.