History Highway
Hello fellow history enthusiasts and welcome to “History Highway!” I am Alexandra Philp and as the Executive Director of the Wyoming Historical Society, I’m thrilled to be on this journey with you.
In History Highway we’ll be exploring something truly essential to our mission: heritage tourism here in our magnificent state. Each month, I’ll take you along on my travels, sharing personal narratives, anecdotes, and highlighting those hidden gems and iconic landmarks that render Wyoming’s past so vibrant and accessible.
My profound appreciation for heritage tourism was cultivated not only in a classroom, but also on countless formative road trips across Wyoming with my parents. I retain a vivid memory of these excursions: every roadside marker and monument was an obligatory stop. We did not simply read the inscription; we got out, walked around, observed the physical setting, absorbed the atmosphere, and allowed the landscape to inform the narrative. My father, who possessed a remarkable command of regional lore, always offered additional context, enriching the history of the area with his personal connections and detailed knowledge. Standing on the very ground where history unfolded, immersed in that multi-sensory experience, solidified my lifelong commitment to Wyoming’s story.
That distinctive experience of interpersonal history is something unique to our state. Wyoming, despite its immense geography, fosters a profound sense of connection due to its small population. Our local histories are not merely abstract dates and names; they are often profoundly and directly intertwined. We share a collective continuity with the people and events that shaped our communities, our ranches, and our wild landscapes. It is highly probable that your neighbor’s ancestors had direct acquaintance with mine, or that your family’s land sits adjacent to a route pioneers once traversed.
In fact, this deep-rooted connection is why I’m especially honored to be a member of Wyoming’s Monuments and Markers Advisory Committee. To move from being a child reading those roadside plaques to having a direct part in shaping and sharing our state’s history for future generations is truly a privilege. It allows me to help ensure that the markers we place today carry the same resonance and personal relevance that those monuments held for me and my family all those years ago.
The idea that “history is the why” creates relational depth in how we recognize that history encapsulates an essential human truth: it is the definitive why behind who we are today, providing the essential context from which we chart our course into the future. It is woven into our geography, our culture, and our governance. When you engage with a historical site in Wyoming, you are not merely observing the past; you are positioning yourself within a direct, traceable lineage to the narratives and individuals who define this place. It is a real, tangible, and intensely personal connection.
So, please buckle up (seriously, wear your seatbelt folks!) as we explore pioneer trails, ghost towns, historic main streets, and vital museums; always prioritizing the human story behind the stone, and the collective connection we all share.
Let’s hit the road and discover why #HistoryThatsWY is truly a journey worth undertaking.
Until next time, safe travels.
-Alexandra Philp
16 posts
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February 25, 2026
Oasis in the Desert
Read More : Oasis in the DesertThe Road Ahead and the Path Behind:Heritage Tourism and the Spirit of Little America Wednesday, February 25, 2026 As the dust settles on this year’s Wyoming Governor’s Hospitality…
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February 23, 2026
Shoshoni – Crossroads of Wyoming
Read More : Shoshoni – Crossroads of WyomingThe Crossroads of Wyoming: A History of Shoshoni In the vast, sage-brushed heart of the Wind River Basin, where the high-altitude sun bleaches the land and the wind whispers through…
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February 23, 2026
Aladdin Store
Read More : Aladdin StoreA History of the Aladdin General Store In the far northeastern corner of Wyoming, where the rolling plains begin to buckle and fold into the pine-covered Black Hills, sits a…
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February 23, 2026
Devils Tower (Bear Lodge)
Read More : Devils Tower (Bear Lodge)Bears and Stars Rising from the Earth – Devils Tower / Bear Lodge National Monument Rising 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River in the northeastern corner of Wyoming, Devils…
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February 23, 2026
Frontier Auto Museum
Read More : Frontier Auto MuseumFrontier Auto Museum In the heart of Gillette, Wyoming, where the modern landscape is defined by the massive machinery of the coal and energy industries, sits a neon-soaked sanctuary dedicated…
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February 23, 2026
Mesa Ring Stone Sculpture
Read More : Mesa Ring Stone SculptureThe Mesa Ring: A Monument in Stone In the vast, rolling grasslands south of Buffalo, Wyoming, sits a sculpture that bridges the gap between the geological past and the…
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February 23, 2026
Medicine Lodge
Read More : Medicine LodgeThe Great Sandstone Library The Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site is more than just a destination; it is a profound intersection of time, geology, and human spirit. While the towering…
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February 23, 2026
Wind River Canyon Highway
Read More : Wind River Canyon HighwayThe Impassable Canyon – Wind River Highway To drive through the Wind River Canyon is to perform an act of time travel. Cutting a jagged, 2,500-foot-deep wound through the Owl…
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February 23, 2026
Korell Center
Read More : Korell CenterThis stop has its own home on the site. Visit The Korell Center for Wyoming Heritage for hours, exhibits and visitor information. The History of the Korell Center for Wyoming…
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February 23, 2026
South Pass City
Read More : South Pass City“There be gold in ‘dem hills!” – South Pass City High in the Wind River Mountains, where the sagebrush gives way to subalpine meadows and the air carries the permanent…
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February 23, 2026
Farson Mercantile
Read More : Farson MercantileA Mountain of Ice Cream – The Farson Mercantile At the desolate junction of U.S. Highway 191 and Wyoming Highway 28, surrounded by hundreds of square miles of sagebrush and…
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February 23, 2026
Historic Little America
Read More : Historic Little AmericaAn Oasis in the Desert: Historic Little America The story of Little America, located on the windswept plains of western Wyoming near Granger, is one of the most enduring legends…
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February 23, 2026
Piedmont Kilns
Read More : Piedmont KilnsPoints in the Distance: The Piedmont Kilns In the high, wind-swept desert of Uinta County, Wyoming, stand three silent, stone sentinels that look more like ancient monuments or oversized beehives…
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February 23, 2026
Evanston Roundhouse
Read More : Evanston RoundhouseEvanston Roundhouse The Evanston Roundhouse is more than a collection of brick and mortar; it is a cathedral of the industrial age, a monument to the brute force of steam,…
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January 16, 2026
Along the Rim
Read More : Along the RimUp and Over Along the Trail from Riverton, WY to Meeker, CO There is a magic that happens when you leave Riverton and head south. For many of us Wyoming…
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November 9, 2025
Highways of Remembrance
Read More : Highways of RemembranceWyoming’s Highways of Remembrance Where History and Sacrifice Meet the Open Road As we approach the observance of Veteran’s Day, our minds naturally turn toward gratitude and the solemn act…
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