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As we drove south from Yellowstone National Park to Jackson, Wyoming we entered Grand Teton National Park. Across Jackson Lake stands the majestic Teton Mountain Range in contrast to the valley, or "hole" as the mountain men called it, that you drive through going to Jackson. Grand Teton, the tallest peak, rises to an elevation of 13,772 feet. Just north of Jackson is the National Museum of Wildlife Art, one of the most impressive collections of paintings and sculptures related to wildlife that I've ever seen. They don't allow pictures to be taken of the collections on display but here you see a few of the bronze sculptures that were outside the building.
We spent a day enjoying the sights and sounds of Jackson with perusing art galleries as our main objective. Jackson is one of the country's main centers for western art and the galleries there display the best of the best from artists and sculptors who create works with a western theme. Back on the road we passed again by the Teton mountains and the Snake River as we headed North. Along the way we saw a moose and several pronghorns. Folk who live in the "hole" have a beautiful view, no doubt about that. Heading East from Yellowstone on our way to Cody we made a stop at the Shoshone River dam which created the Buffalo Bill reservoir. It's located in the Shoshone canyon, one of many picturesque areas between Yellowstone and Cody. Teddy Roosevelt called this 53 mile stretch of highway the most beautiful road in the country.
Our primary reason for visiting Cody was to see the Buffalo Bill Historical Center which is composed of 5 museums. The complex covers 6.9 acres all under one roof. As you might guess, it took us two days to see all the center has to offer. Of particular interest to me were the Whitney Gallery of Western Art and the Plains Indian Museum. That certainly isn't to say The Buffalo Bill Museum (all about Buffalo Bill's life and his Wild West Show), The Cody Firearms Museum (2,700 firearms on display) and the Draper Museum of Natural History weren't a treat to visit. It is a world class museum of the west and even two days wasn't enough time to appreciate all that is on display.
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So many places we've visited can't be confined to a small rectangle. Pictures don't show the depth of a landscape or the quality of a display. Hopefully the commentary helps to convey the excitement we have experienced in places we've visited and things we've seen. And now, come along as the adventure continues... |
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