GLCEventAcquisition of WyomingQvCNoteIn the beginning Spain, France and Britain all claimed parts of Wyoming. The United States acquired the area piecemeal in several different ways. Through the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 a portion of Wyoming became the property of the United States. Another portion of the territory was gained through the Treaty of 1819 with Spain. The cession by republic of Texas in 1836 gained yet another portion of the state and the agreement with Britain setting the Northern boundary in 1846 included a portion of the state. Finally, as a result of the Mexican War the United States gained half a million square miles of territory through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. This included parts of Wyoming. khttp://www.allsands.com/History/Places/wyomingstate_suv_gn.htm Taken from the Internet, February 17, 2002.+The Beginnings of Yellowstone National Park| YellowstoneOne of the earliest explorers of Wyoming was John Colter in 1807. While exploring the Rocky Mountains, he discovered a region of steaming geysers and towering water falls so unusual that his written reports nicknamed the area "Colter's Hell." The same area, in 1872, was set aside forever as a place to be enjoyed by everyone. It became known as Yellowstone, the world's first National Park. khttp://www.state.wy.us/state/wyoming_news/general/history.html Taken from the Internet, February 14, 2002.'First Organized Expedition Into Wyoming[The Wilson Price Hunt party crossed the state on the way to Astoria, in present day Oregon.nhttp://www.state.wy.us/state/wyoming_news/general/chronology.html Taken from the Internet, February 15, 2002.Ft. Laramie Established Ft. LaramieThis, the most significant outpost on the Oregon Trail system, was established as a trading post by fur traders William Sublette and Robert Campbell. The U.S. military purchased the Fort in 1849 as a base to protect and supply the growing emigration on the trails. It later became a major link in the Pony Express, Overland Stage Line and the transcontinental telegraph systems and served as a base of operations for the High Plains Indian Wars. khttp://www.state.wy.us/state/wyoming_news/general/history.html Taken from the Internet, February 14, 2002. First School; Ft. LaramiesWilliam Vaux, post chaplain, opened the first school in Wyoming at Ft. Laramie, assisted by his daughter, Victoria.nhttp://www.state.wy.us/state/wyoming_news/general/chronology.html Taken from the Internet, February 14, 2002.American Civil WarlAhttp://www.us-civilwar.com/ Taken from the Internet July 3, 2001First Newspaper Ft. Bridger2The Daily Telegraph is established at Ft. Bridger.Ahttp://www.state.wy.us/state/wyoming_news/general/chronology.htmlWyoming Territory Created(=Carved from sections of Dakota, Utah, and Idaho territories, Wyoming Territory came into existence by act of Congress.The territorial government was formally inaugurated May 19, 1869. The first territorial governor, John A. Campbell, appointed by President Ulysses S. Grant, took his oath of office on April 15, 1869.khttp://www.state.wy.us/state/wyoming_news/general/history.html Taken from the Internet, February 14, 2002.Asian ImmigrantsThe first long-term employment for the Chinese seeking jobs in Wyoming was found along the Union Pacific Railroad as maintenance-of-the-way workers. Soon Chinese railroad workers and later coal miners were working along the Union Pacific railroad from Laramie to Evanston. In the years between 1868 and 1885, the Chinese contributed much to the development of southern Wyoming. But they were also the victims of intense racial prejudice. mhttp://www.wwcc.cc.wy.us/wyo_hist/ev.wyoming_and_the_chinese.htm Taken from the Internet, February 17, 2002.$First "Female Suffrage" in the WorldWyoming's territorial legislature became the first government in the world to grant "female suffrage" by enacting a bill granting Wyoming women the right to vote. The act was signed into law on December 10 of that year by Governor A.J. Campbell. khttp://www.state.wy.us/state/wyoming_news/general/history.html Taken from the Internet, February 14, 2002.Becomes a State|hIn 1888, the Territorial Assembly sent Congress a petition for admission into the Union. Bills were introduced in both houses of Congress, but did not pass. Though no legislation passed Congress enabling Wyoming to follow the steps that lead to statehood, Governor Francis E. Warren and others decided to continue as if an "enabling act" had passed. On July 8, 1889, Wyoming Territory held an election of delegates to Wyoming's one and only Constitutional Convention. Forty-nine men gathered in Cheyenne during September, 1889, and wrote the constitution. The voters approved the document November 5, 1889, by a vote of 6,272 to 1,923. Bills for Wyoming statehood were introduced in both the U.S. Senate and House in December, 1889. The House passed the bill March 27, 1890. President Benjamin Harrison signed Wyoming's statehood bill, making Wyoming the 44th state. khttp://www.state.wy.us/state/wyoming_news/general/history.html Taken from the Internet, February 14, 2002.Spanish-American WarkThe sinking of the US Maine in Havana harbor on February 15, 1898, led to the outbreak of war in April between Spain and America. Newspapers of the day echoed public sentiment and enthusiasm for war. Governor William A. Richards was flooded with requests from old and young Wyoming men who wanted to join in what they perceived to be a noble and exciting cause. _http://wyoarchives.state.wy.us/articles/spanam.htm Taken from the Internet, February 15, 2002.First JC Penney StoreKemmerer6James Cash Penney was the founder of JC Penney Stores,Xhttp://www.trib.com/WYOMING/wfunfacts.shtml Taken from the Internet, February 17, 2002.6First Town in America to be Governed Entirely by Women?JacksonThe city of Jackson had a woman mayor, town council and town marshall. One of the councilwomen defeated her husband for her council seat. Yhttp://soswy.state.wy.us/informat/firsts.htm Taken from the Internet, February 17, 2002.First Elected Female Governor#Mrs. Nellie Tayloe Ross was the first elected woman governor to take office in the United States. She took office on January 5, 1925, 20 days before "Ma" Ferguson of Texas (elected on the same day) took office. Mrs. Ross went on to become the first woman to be appointed Director of the United States Mint-a position she held for 20 years, from 1933 to 1953. In 1991, women held three of the state's five top elective positions and a total of 23 women hold seats in the Wyoming Legislature, three in the Senate and 20 in the House. khttp://www.state.wy.us/state/wyoming_news/general/history.html Taken from the Internet, February 14, 2002.