Wandering Orbit

We were in Cheyenne, Wyoming last Monday.  Unfortunately for us, even though the state capitol is nearing the end of their three year renovation, this was the most we could see of it  There was an exhibit on the capitol at the state museum so we went there instead And saw one of these cool cowboy boots (see S in the right side of the photo? That is how big these are) They are all over Cheyenne, kind of like Bucky in Madison, Wisconsin The next best part of seeing the capitol was finding this off the side of the freeway, 20 miles west of Cheyenne: It is the cupola from the capitol, notice the plaque that says "Dome on the Range" On our drive to Evanston, we crossed the Continental Divide twice! We stayed in Evanston overnight and headed to Utah on Tuesday I was REALLY wondering if the GPS map notification would show Brigham Young or perhaps a skier, but it was a train conductor (Transcontinental Railroad met in Utah) We were back in Uta

Tuesday we went to the Nebraska state capitol, Lincoln It is a skyscraper with a dome! Tons of art in this building, so many things to look at, including this "railing" made from Utah onyx When you look over the railing, these are the mosaics.  There was statuary, painted and carved doors, mosaics inside the dome, mosaics below the dome outside, murals, all kinds of artwork and then tons and tons of inscriptions and quotes.  SO much art! Outside on the west side was this statue of Lincoln, by the same sculptor as the memorial in D.C. Quirky item to note: the old-fashioned towel dispensers in the bathrooms.  I had to teach S how to use them and J said he stared at it for a bit before figuring it out. We headed to the Gerald Ford birthplace next, in Omaha.  He was born Leslie Lynch King, Jr., his mom left and later divorce his abusive dad. His stepdad adopted him and he became a different Jr.  This birthplace was where his paternal grandparents' house h