Day 2: Casper, WY to Grand Junction, CO

We drove up Casper Mountain before leaving town Sunday morning.  Not much for us to do other than enjoy the view.  There were mostly campgrounds and primitive hiking type of trails that were beyond what we wanted to do.

 The kids enjoying the view leading up to the top of the mountain

 Some of the scenery on the drive up

 We stopped in a town called Rawlins, WY for a picnic.  We found a little park with a playground.  On our way there, we passed the site of the former Wyoming State Penitentiary.  A quick google search on the iphone revealed the old prison is open for tours.  How cool is that!!!  When we were done eating, we drove the few blocks back to the old pen, and learned that the next tour started in just 10 minutes.  There was some initial concern how appropriate the tour would be for the 7 year old of the group, as in the museum, there were pictures of zombies displayed.  Apparently, an 80s B horror movie was filmed in the prison after it closed.  There was also a display of the gallows, complete with a stuffed dummy with a black hood covering his face and a noose around his neck, and pictures of men who were executed by hanging with a portion of the rope by their picture.

 These are some of the 11 prisoners executed at the prison.  6 were hung, 5 had the gas chamber.

 Cell block A

 The gallows.  As the prisoner stepped on the platform above, a system was activated where a valve was opened, allowing water to flow out of a bucket.  There was a weight attached through a  pulley.  As the bucket lost water, the weight would be lowered until it caused the support to collapse, opening up the platform and causing the prisoner to drop.  Creepy.

 Eric and Megan each took a turn sitting in the gas chamber.  Jonathan had a turn as well, I just didn't get a picture of him.