Wyoming State Office
| Contacts: | Amy Rubino, | |||
| (307) 775-6267 |
Public Invited to Attend Program: Rails and Shutters - The Train-Camera Link that transformed the American West
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Wyoming Humanities Council are sponsoring a program on July 14 to celebrate American Heritage Month.
Chavawn Kelley discusses the role of photography and the railroad on westward expansion. The public is invited to attend this free event which begins at 8 a.m. at the BLM building, 5353 Yellowstone, Cheyenne, in the first floor conference room.
From the 1860s into the 20th century, two technologies went to work on the culture and landscape of the American West. The transcontinental railroad provided an engine for “the annihilation of time and space” as it sped across the continent, while photography allowed time to stop entirely. This presentation explores the role of early photographers such as A.J. Russell, William Henry Jackson, and F.J. Haynes in the development of Wyoming and the West. The 45-minute photo lecture will be supplemented by extra time for discussion.
Kelley holds a Master’s degree in American Studies from the University of Wyoming. A published author, she is the recipient of two writing awards from the Wyoming Arts Council.
Kelley’s presentation is offered by the Wyoming Council for the Humanities through its 2009 Humanities Forum. Council programs explore the human experience—our lives, our communities, our world—in partnership with nonprofit organizations throughout Wyoming. Emphasis is placed on fostering forums for discussion among Wyoming residents.
For more information, call Donna Shaffer at (307) 775-6009.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
Wyoming State Office 5353 Yellowstone Cheyenne, WY 82009