Cheyenne’s “Frontier Day” (1897): 8,000 people see an entertaining time
Bronco riding, Wild horse race, Stage hold-up, Hanging bee, Cow-pony races, etc. — A sham battle
Cheyenne, Wyoming, Sept 23 — The first Frontier Day celebration passed off today without accident of any kind, and everybody was well pleased. About 8,000 people were present, and each event was received with great applause.
The feature of the day was the broncho [sic] riding, which was excellent and exciting from start to finish. The wild horse race was also especially good, both of them producing the sild scurrying of the crowd when the bronchos refused to recognize fences or boundaries of any kind. The stage hold-up and the hanging bee were almost too realistic to be pleasurable.
Through the kindness of Col. Van Horn, commanding at Fort Russell, the Eighth Redignemtn United States Infantry gave a sham battle, in which the full regiment participated.
The cow pony races were liked, as indeed was the entire programme. Next year, the preparation will be begun earlier, and a splendid programme is promised, embracing many features which could not be secured today.
– The Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City, Utah) – September 24, 1897
Cheyenne’s Frontier Days: Souvenir of the Wild West
Glimpses of Cheyenne, Frontier Day – 1896 to 1902
The following pictures represent the residents and life of the early settlers in the West, as shown by the two days’ celebration given every year in Cheyenne, Wyoming, under the name of “Frontier day.”
Many of the feats of riding and roping are not surpassed by the greatest vaqueros of Mexico, and this show is rapidly acquiring a national reputation from the wonderful skill of the competing horsemen. Prizes are given for riding, roping and racing, and the general features are typical of early western life.
I submit this little pamphlet illustrating some of the striking features of the show,
Respectfully yours,
J. E. Stimson
Wild horse race
Little Shield (Arapahoe tribe)
Cheyenne’s Frontier Days: Wyoming’s old Wild West festival artillery
Wife of Henry Lee (Arapahoe)
Squaws watching dance
Frontier Day street scene
Cowboys on parade
Shoshones
Horses and carriage: On the way to the grounds
Start of the wild horse race & Cowgirls’ race
Winner of Cowgirls’ Race
Norah (Shoshone) – Native American
Indian teepee
Sorrel (Shoshone – Native American/”Indian”)
Cadzatzago (Shoshone)
Indian (Native American) War Dance
