What a summer it’s been! Cheyenne Frontier Days™ kept us all on our toes—crowds through the doors, questions everywhere, and something happening in just about every corner of the Museum. It was busy, but with your help it all came together and ran smoothly.
A big thank-you to everyone who jumped in during those hectic days and to those who helped kick things off with the art show. Whether you were greeting visitors, giving tours, sharing stories, or working behind the scenes, you kept things moving and made a real difference.
Thanks also to those who joined us for the volunteer field trip this summer. It was great to spend time together outside the Museum and just enjoy the day.
Looking back, I’ll remember the lively galleries, the easy conversations, and the way our guests felt welcomed here. That all comes from you, and I’m so glad to have this team.
Here’s to wrapping up a great summer and making it one to remember—I’m already looking forward to the next season we’ll share.
Bryci Achter
Volunteer Coordinator
Call for Recipes;
If you enjoy cooking, eating or both and know of a good recipe please send it to me!! I am collecting recipes! Please e-mail them to me or drop them off at my desk!
Goodbye Summer BBQ:
Bring your favorite dish, friends and family to join us and hang out in Lion’s Park on September 18th between 11:30 and 1:30 as we say goodbye to summer!
Thankful Thursday:
Come along on October 16th at 4pm to the East Lincolnway Event Hall to participate and help support the community!
Volunteer Christmas Party:
Spend some time with us on December 4th at the Red Lion Hotel for some festive activities!
Thank You!
I want to give a huge thank you to all our amazing volunteers who helped make the 45th Annual CFD Western Art Show one of the biggest successes in recent years! From my salespeople to bartenders, bar queens, security, and beyond, I cannot be more grateful. We had one of the most successful sales years yet, and I heard nothing but glowing compliments about the event and the people who made it possible. We truly could not do this without you, and I believe you are the reason this event is so special in the community and the Western Art world.
-Amanda Marshall
Cheyenne Frontier Days™ Old West Museum Volunteer Newsletter
Help Wanted!
We could use some extra help at the front desk on weekends! If you’re available, we’d love to have you lend a hand. Let us know if you can volunteer on a Saturday or Sunday!
Goodbye Summer BBQ
Let’s send summer off in style! We’re throwing a Goodbye Summer BBQ, and you’re invited. It’s the perfect chance to kick back, celebrate all the hard work our volunteers have done, and spend some time together before the season changes.
We’ll fire up the grill, and we’d love for you to bring a dish to share. It’s always fun to see what tasty surprises end up on the table, so don’t be shy about bringing something you love to make (or love to eat!). Friends and family are welcome too, so bring them along for the fun.
The BBQ runs from 11:30-1:30, so feel free to swing by anytime that works for you. Whether you’re here for burgers and brats, swapping recipes, or just hanging out with amazing people, this BBQ is for YOU!
Location: Lion’s Park Gazebo Picnic Shelter
Date: September 18
Time: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
RSVP: Bryci at 307-778-1418 or bryci.achter@oldwestmuseum.org
Thankful Thursday
Join us on Thursday, October 16th at 4pm at the East Lincolnway Event Hall for a night of fun, giving, and heartwarming community spirit at Thankful Thursday!
We’re proud to be partnering with Mended Hearts, a wonderful organization dedicated to supporting heart patients and their families. This is your chance to not only enjoy a night out, but also make a difference right here in our community!
The evening will feature a live auction, raffle, punch box, and more.
Want to help out? We would love gift card donations valued at $25-$50. Every contribution helps us raise more for this important cause!
Christmas Party
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! We’re decking the halls and throwing a Volunteer Christmas Party to celebrate YOU and all the joy you bring to the Cheyenne Frontier Days™ Old West Museum! We’ll have festive treats, fun games and door prizes! This is our way of saying THANK YOU for your incredible support all year long.
Location: Red Lion Hotel
Date: December 4th, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM
RSVP: Bryci at 307-778-1418 or bryci.achter@oldwestmuseum.org
Dazee’s Corner: A Taste of Tradition
In Dazee’s Corner, we’re sharing recipes favored by former “Dazees” - women known for their culinary skills and hospitality - and also new faces at the Museum! This edition features “Crab and Artichoke Dip” and “White Chili”. I hope you enjoy these beloved recipes! If you have a recipe that you love, please send it to me at bryci.achter@oldwestmuseum.org
INGREDIENTS
• 1 8 oz, can crabmeat
• 1 8 oz. package cream cheese
• 1 cup mayonnaise
Crab and Artichoke Dip
Submitted by Marcy Helser
• 1/3 cup chopped onion
• 1 can (13 3/4 oz.) artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
• 3/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
PREPARATION
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
In a bowl blend cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth. Stir in remaining ingredients and place into a glass pie plate.
Bake. uncovered for 15-18 minutes, until heated through and lightly browned.
- 2 cans (15-1/2 ounces each) great northern beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) chicken broth
- 2 cans (4 ounces each) chopped green chilies
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- Tortilla chips, optional
- Shredded cheddar cheese, optional
- Sliced seeded jalapeno pepper, optional
PREPARATION
In a large saucepan, saute the chicken, onion and garlic powder in oil until chicken is no longer pink. Add the beans, broth, chilies and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
Remove from the heat; stir in sour cream and cream. If desired, top with tortilla chips, cheese and jalapenos.
Thank You Volunteers!
Volunteer Spotlight
Carla Lofton
Meet Carla Lofton!
If you head just south of Chugwater, Wyoming, past the wide skies and waving wheat fields, you’ll find the roots of Carla Lofton—where her story began with tractors, CB radios, and a dad who was known far and wide as “The Dry Farmer.” With only nine kids in her graduating class, Carla didn’t grow up with crowds, but she did grow up with good stories, pie-eating turkey shoots, and the kind of family time you wish you could bottle.
Some of Carla’s fondest memories include driving to grandma’s house perched on her dad’s lap, learning to shift gears before she was tall enough to reach the pedals. That’s where she first caught the car bug—and it’s never let go. Today, she’s the proud owner of a cherry ’64 Corvette, her pride and joy, and possibly the coolest ride in town. Her Corvette is just one of several sweet rides too!
In 1969, Carla came to Cheyenne to be part of history: the first-ever class at Laramie County Community College. Back then, it was just three little buildings and a whole lot of imagination. She even had to take classes at the Methodist church down the street while they finished up the classrooms—a true pioneer of higher education, Wyoming-style.
Her professional life was rooted in dedication—she worked her way up to become the CEO’s assistant at Blue Cross Blue Shield and stayed until her well-earned retirement in 2021.
These days, Carla enjoys the simple joys of summer: a comfy chair, a mystery novel, and maybe a Bud Light in hand. (Get her two beers in and that shyness of hers? Gone. You’ll be laughing before you know what hit you.) Along the way, she also attempted a backyard garden—but her success was measured mostly in how many fresh peas she and her son could sneak off the vine before they made it to the kitchen.
A lifelong lover of puzzles and creativity, Carla spends her free time building intricate Lego sets—from Harry Potter to Winnie the Pooh—and unwinding with crossword puzzles and cross stitch. Her two dogs, Layla and Mari (a proud pomchi and a long-haired chihuahua), are usually close by, keeping things lively with their own brand of small-but-mighty energy.
Carla is a proud Scot who loves the swirl of tartans at the Scottish Highland Festival and still gets chills listening to radio classics like War of the Worlds—because some things never go out of style.
In the last year, Carla found a new adventure: volunteering at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum. A lifelong fan of CFD, she thought it might be fun to get involved—and sure enough, it has been! Her laughter, thoughtfulness, and quiet sense of humor have made her a fast favorite.
When asked to share a favorite quote, Carla simply says: “To everything there is a season.” And if you ask anyone who knows her, they’ll agree—Carla Lofton makes every season just a little brighter.
Thank you Carla for your dedication and lovely spirit.
Volunteer Spotlight
Randy Girmus
Meet Randy Girmus!
If you’ve ever been lucky enough to chat with Randy at the Museum, you know he’s not just telling history—he’s lived a lot of it.
Randy grew up on a farm in North Platte, Nebraska, and landed in Cheyenne with help from the Union Pacific Railroad—both literally and figuratively. Spurred by a love of adventure that has never let up, Randy’s had a lifelong love affair with the outdoors, the West, rodeo, and Cheyenne Frontier Days™.
Back in the day, Randy wasn’t just watching the rodeo—he was in it. Bull riding. Saddle bronc. Wild horse racing. He did it all. One of his favorite memories is from 1987, when Chris LeDoux—yes, the Chris LeDoux, although he didn’t know it at the time—signed the back of his wild horse racing number. He still has it, and it’s one of his most treasured keepsakes.
Through the 1980s, you’d find Randy with the Parade Gunslingers, bringing Old West flair to the streets of Cheyenne. These days, you’ll spot him with a camera slung around his neck, capturing the magic of CFD as part of the PR Committee. His photos have told countless stories, and his eye for a moment is second only to his love for sharing them.
Outside the Museum and arena, Randy’s at home in the mountains. He loves hiking, fishing, and snapping photos of the places that make this part of the world so special—Vedauwoo, Medicine Bow National Forest, Red Feather, Steamboat Springs... anywhere the sky stretches wide and the wild is still wild.
He’s been volunteering with the Old West Museum for 17 years. Whether he’s giving a tour or swapping rodeo stories, Randy makes sure guests leave with a deeper appreciation for CFD and the spirit of the West.
We’re lucky to have him on the team—and even luckier to call him a friend.
Volunteer Spotlight
Val Clyncke
Meet Val Clyncke!
If you’ve spent time at the Old West Museum, you may have already crossed paths with Val Clyncke—a sharp dresser with a quick wit, a sparkling smile, and a heart full of stories. Her laugh is arguably one of the best these walls have ever heard. Val spent 46 years in Casper raising her family, running two businesses, traveling the world, and supporting her community through book sales, city commissions, and the local arts. She’s maintained this community spirit in her continued volunteer work.
Val’s an adventurous soul and has had her fair share of adventures— like the time Val, her husband, young children and a few friends set out on horseback for a backcountry trip in the Absaroka Mountains. Just as they were unloading the horses a curious bear spooked everyone, horses included! When the animals bucked off the packs that hadn’t yet been unloaded and bolted miles and miles back to the trailhead, the small group made the best of things. While her husband and one of thier friends made thier way back down the trail on foot (a trip that would take the rest of the day, a night and most of the next day as well!), Val, kiddos and friends gathered the thrown items and made camp. The small group made the best of things and turned a chaotic moment into a cherished memory under the stars.
Today, Val lives just outside Cheyenne on a peaceful acreage where she grows a garden full of vegetables. At the Museum, she’s a vital part of the Collections team—meticulously cataloging artifacts and preserving the stories behind them. She calls her work writing the “Reader’s Digest version” of an object’s life, but her care and curiosity bring every object to life.
Val’s legacy is one of joy, service, and deep love for the stories that shape us. We are so lucky to have her as part of our museum family.
Volunteer Spotlight
Lois McPherson
Meet Lois McPherson!
From the suburbs of Chicago to the wide-open skies of Wyoming, Lois McPherson’s life has been defined by creativity, curiosity, and a deep commitment to her community. After graduating from Iowa State University, she moved several times before settling in Wyoming in the mid-1970s to be closer to family.
Soon after, Lois opened a sewing and fabric store, putting to use the skills passed down from her mother. Years later, she took on a new adventure—opening the Eagle’s Nest Bar, which she ran for 25 years. The relationships she built there with local tradespeople and craftsmen were essential when her and her partner designed and build a unique berm-style home, nestled west of town and filled with sunlight and the plants she lovingly tends.
A passionate reader and lifelong learner, Lois finds joy in discovering new books while volunteering in the Laramie County Library’s book sale room. She has a love for travel and enjoys chatting with visitors from around the world, often offering local tips and warm hospitality. For Lois, places like Yellowstone and Cody are more than destinations— they’re part of the Wyoming spirit she’s proud to share.
Guided by the principle, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” Lois brings intelligence, wit, and a lifetime of experience to every volunteer shift. Her story is a beautiful reminder of how much one person can shape a community—just by being themselves.
Mary Kay Lewis Volunteer Spotlight
Meet Mary Kay Lewis!
Meet Mary Kay Lewis—a jet-setting, pageant-winning, people-loving ball of sunshine who brings joy and laughter wherever she goes!
Mary Kay was born in Cheyenne but grew up on the move with her Air Force family. She was a regular on every base swim team and learned early how to make fast friends and dive right in—literally.
She returned to Cheyenne for high school when her dad retired—and fate (or at least school locker assignments) introduced her to her future husband, whose locker was right next to hers! She went on to study Public Relations at the University of Wyoming, where her sorority sisters talked her into entering the Miss Wyoming pageant. (She made me swear not to tell anyone about this part—so please pretend you didn’t hear it.) Not only did she win the Miss Wyoming title and a charm bracelet, but she also made it to the Miss USA stage dressed as a “Bottle of Fresh Air.” She lost the costume contest portion to a totem pole from Alaska. True story.
Mary Kay spent 40 fabulous years flying with United Airlines, based out of Denver, Chicago, and Washington D.C., with international layovers in Paris, Rome, Dubai—you name it. She has enough stories to fill a travel memoir, including the time Paul Newman had to eat out of tins in first class because the kitchen in Chicago forgot to pack the fine china.
These days, Mary Kay keeps the adventure going. She volunteers at the Botanic Gardens, helps usher at the Civic Center, walks her dogs, and stays busy with family. Mary Kay told me about her family and she said it best: “Craig and I are so grateful and lucky to live in wonderful Cheyenne along with our three adult grandchildren and two young grandsons. We have two daughters; Brittney (married to Joe Webber), her identical twin sister, Katrene and thier ‘little’ brother Todd who is married to Kassie. And we have two very sweet grandsons - Kipton (10) and Knoxton (7). We feel very fortunate indeed and count our blessings every day!”
Her motto? “Be open-minded. Stay open-minded.” Her impact? Unforgettable.
We’re lucky (and honestly, a little starstruck) to have Mary Kay in our volunteer crew.
Volunteer Spotlight
Bobby Born
Meet Bobby Born!
Bobby is a retired Air Guard veteran, lifelong volunteer, passionate art collector, and all-around community gem!
Originally from Greeley, Bobby came to Cheyenne in 1971 to student teach and fell in love with the city. After six years teaching special education at Central High, he joined the Air National Guard and served nearly 29 years. Even after retiring, Bobby never slowed down.
He’s spent years giving back—leading and participating in over a dozen community organizations, volunteering at his church, and for the last eight years, helping us out at the Cheyenne Frontier Days™ Old West Museum. Bobby plays a huge role in the Western Spirit Art Show, helping hang, sell, pack, and ship artwork, and he also serves on the Art Committee.
Bobby’s also a dedicated art collector. He’s passionate about pieces that “talk” to him and especially admires artists like John Keeling, Renee P., Brandon Bailey, and Marlin Rotach. He helped bring the Healers of the West sculpture to life outside the hospital and believes public art is key to building a vibrant, connected community.
When he’s not volunteering, Bobby’s traveling (he’s got his sights set on France this fall!), cooking monthly breakfasts at the COMEA Shelter, or enjoying local favorites like chicken-fried steak at The Albany or a juicy steak at T-Joe’s. When he takes a rare moment to relax, you can find him enjoying an afternoon by the river at his cabin with his pup Lady.
His guiding philosophy? “Surrender to prayer.”
Thank you, Bobby, for your kindness, your dedication, and everything you do for Cheyenne!
Frontier Flashback
Deadwood Stagecoach AKA The Mud Wagon
Brass Plate 68
Cheyenne’s old-timers tell of watching the Deadwood Stagecoach perform in the Irwin Brothers Wild West Show. Today it continues to please audiences who view it in the Museum.
The Irwins Show was established in 1904 and patterned after Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. Charlie Irwin followed Buffalo Bill’s lead by purchasing a coach from the Cheyenne to Black Hills Stage Line. The coach had endured frequent 300-mile trips between Cheyenne and Deadwood but remained in relatively good condition. A fresh coat of red paint made it Irwin’s showpiece!
The stagecoach has become a symbol of the Old West and has a colorful history. Vehicles used for public transportation were called stagecoaches because they accomplished their journeys in successive stages when horses were changed, and passengers could step out, stretch, and perhaps have a meal.
Stagecoaches became popular in America in the late 1700s when frontiersmen pushed inland. The roads were little more than twisting wheel ruts, and as mail was no longer being transported by packhorse but by private stagecoach lines, this created competition and innovation among coach builders.
One such innovation was the use of thoroughbraces, which are straps made of ox hide running under both sides of the body and attached to the axles. Thoroughbrace suspension significantly reduced the strain on horses: when a front wheel hit an obstacle, the body rocked forward, lifting the wheel over the obstruction to keep the wheels straight and eliminate the jerk on the team. Stagecoaches became known as “Cradles of the Plains.”
With the discovery of gold in California in 1849, transportation across the United States became a priority. Completion of the Union Pacific Railroad in 1869 saw the demise of the transcontinental stage routes but brought in a horde of passengers for the stagecoaches to carry to the growing areas of the West.
It had become apparent that the light and graceful, egg shaped coaches used in the East could not withstand the rigors of the West. Although they were usually called stagecoaches, passenger wagons became the backbone of western staging. Using outside framing and a square body, the passenger wagons were inexpensive, durable, less top-heavy and capable of traveling routes that would stop a heavier coach. Like the stagecoach, the passenger wagon was painted a brilliant red with a yellow undercarriage and wheels. Because it constantly rolled over poor roads and through the mud, it was nicknamed the “mud wagon.”
For this reason, the Cheyenne Frontier Days Deadwood Stage is a western passenger wagon commonly known as a mud wagon. It is recognized by the State of Wyoming for its unsurpassed historic value. In 1976, this Mud Wagon represented Wyoming in the nation’s bicentennial parade held in Philadelphia exactly one hundred years after this unit was purchased for use on the Deadwood Stageline.
When you see the Mud Wagon in the Old West Museum, you can now appreciate the part it has played in building and preserving our Western history.
In Greek mythology, Phaethon, son of Helios (God of the Sun), drove the Chariot of the Sun with such recklessness that Zeus, King of the Gods, struck him down with a thunderbolt, lest he set the earth on fire.
Chariots, the name of one of the most popular groups of horse-drawn vehicles was based on this myth. The principal feature of the Phaeton (named after the son of Helios) is that it is has no designated driver’s seat, allowing the owner the satisfaction of handling his own carriage and horses. This factor contributed immensely to its popularity as a sporting vehicle. The phaeton was popular, and grew to be the largest, most varied group of vehicles by the end of the carriage era. The name was applied to large and small types, drawn by one or more horses; some had relatively straight lines, as a wagon, while others had graceful curving lines. While most were built for two passengers, many phaetons could accommodate four, or occasionally even six passengers. A rumble seat often accommodated the servants or a groom (the person responsible for the feeding, exercising, ar types of phaetons are listed. stabling of horses). In Don Berkebile’s Carriage Terminology: An Historical Dictionary almost 20 different types of phaetons are listed.
This vehicle was sometimes known as a Stanhope Phaeton and was similar to the Mail Phaeton or a Gentleman’s Driving Phaeton. It was one of the earliest sporting vehicles and was especially popular with the aristocracy. Phaetons were expensive, yet as previously mentioned, most varieties lacked a designated drive’s seat, which demanded that the owner also be the driver. It came to be considered elegant to drive one’s phaeton through city parks with the rumble seat occupied by servants.
City driving required sharp turns into driveways and alleys and this necessitated the “cut under” construction which gave clearance to the front wheels when turning in a small radius, which made the vehicles more maneuverable.
This Phaeton has a square-box body, a curved-panel front seat with a Stanhope pillar which we would recognize as a high arm rest and a railed seat behind, on the same level as the front seat, for one or two servants. The front seat is commonly equipped with a falling top, while the rear seat is open. It can be drawn by one or two horses; customarily it was used with one horse in England, but with two on the Continent.
Donated from the collection of Lawrence C. Phipps of Denver, this phaeton was built by Desauches Touchard of Paris, France. Phaetons first appeared in the mid-19th century in France and soon became popular in England and America. The same model was featured in the Carriages Display at 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia for $1,200 gold.
Docent Training
Our recent docent trainings were a real highlight! It was wonderful to see so many of you join in as we learned more about the origins of Cheyenne Frontier Days™, the notable figures who helped shape it, and the stories that make our history so unique.
At the second training we walked through the galleries together and explored the new exhibits on display. From fresh displays to behind-thescenes insights, there was plenty to take in and get excited about.
Thank you for taking the time to come and be part of it. Trainings like this not only keep us up to speed but also give us the chance to connect with one another and share ideas. Your enthusiasm and curiosity make a huge difference, and we can’t wait to see how you bring all this new knowledge into your tours and conversations with visitors.
Keep an eye out for more docent trainings in the future as we look forward to welcoming new exhibits in the spring!
