Schedule of Events for July 10 Capitol Square Open House and Celebration
/Chancey Williams and the Younger Brothers Band will be the headliner for the July 10 Capitol Square Open House and Celebration festivities in Cheyenne.
More than 130 years after it first opened to the public, the Wyoming Capitol is reopening after a critical restoration. Festivities kick off at noon with food truck vendors and music, followed by a ribbon cutting, tours of the Capitol Square Project, more live music and entertainment, and fireworks to mark the end of this important project for the people of Wyoming.
All events are free and open to the public, bring your own lawn chair to enjoy the entertainment on the stage.
SCHEDULE
Subject to change
12:00 PM - 10:00 PM - Free Cheyenne Trolley Transportation
Free Cheyenne Trolley Transportation between Spiker Parking Garage, Historic Governor's Mansion and South Supreme Court Lawn
12:00 PM - 12:55 PM - Canyon Kids - Folk/Rock Band
Pat Chadwick (lead vocals), Dusty Nichols (lead guitar), Leif Routman (bass), and Shawn Fleming (drums) make up the core four members of Canyon Kids. They came together to craft original music that builds on the work of their folk/rock heroes—bands like Wilco, CSNY, and My Morning Jacket. On stage the Canyon Kids are ready to make some noise, and at times they might be testing the limits of your decibel meter…that said, they’re not opposed to getting together in a woodsy cabin on a Monday evening to drink wine and sing harmonies in the living room. There's an explosive energy to their live show, but underneath, a dedication to the craft. Visit https://www.canyonkidsmusic.com/
12:00 PM - Food Trucks and Vendors Open
Chicago Dog House | Chick-Fil-A | Cowboy Kettle Corn, LLC | Fat Howard's Chili Company | Happy Taco Hut | Mile High Fries | Mr Jim's Pizza | Nipa Hut | Swirls & Pearls, LLC | The Daily Press | Tortilleria La Paz | Meridian | Taco Johns
12:00 PM - 10:00 PM - Lost Child and Lost and Found
Lost Child and Lost and Found, Wyoming State Museum Lobby
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Arapaho and Shoshone Traditional Arts
Demonstrations of Arapaho and Shoshone Traditional Arts, State Museum Lobby
Marcus Dewey and James Dewey, both Northern Arapaho, are traditional beadwork artists. Marcus Dewey has participated as a Master Artist in the Wyoming Arts Council's Folk Arts Mentoring grant program several times, and this year, he is teaching his brother James the art of beadwork and war shirt making. Marcus learned the art form from his mother and grandmother.
Joanne (Seesequasis) Brings Thunder, Eastern Shoshone, is a multi-talented artist whose work includes ledger art, beadwork, jewelry, and more. Joanne comes from an artistic family, including her grandmother, Eva McAdams, a renowned beadworker and 1996 National Heritage Fellow. Joanne's work reflects this traditional background while also providing room for her own contemporary influences.
12:00 PM - 7:00 PM - Tin Type Photography
“Tin Type Photography,” Wyoming State Museum
12:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Games and Activities, Barrett Lawn
Games and Activities, Barrett Lawn
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Capitol Ribbon Cutting
Ribbon Cutting & Dignitary Speeches, Capitol Steps
Capitol Blessing: Bernadine Craft, Episcopalian Priest; Nathan Winters, Baptist Minister
Posting of the Colors: Wyoming National Guard Joint Color Guard
National Anthem: Artist and educator Dyann Dierks, a Lusk native and graduate of the University of Wyoming, will sing the national anthem.
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Senator Drew Perkins, President of the Wyoming Senate
The Honorable Mark Gordon, Governor of Wyoming
Tony Ross, Capitol Rehabilitation & Restoration Oversight Group, Chairman
Representative Steve Harshman, Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives
Closing Remarks: The Honorable Matthew H. Mead, Governor of Wyoming 2010-2019
Ribbon Cutting
Capitol Doors Open to the Public
1:00 PM - 7:00 PM - Pistol and Pete
Pistol and Pete are the pair of Haflinger draft horses that pull the University of Wyoming College of Agriculture and Natural Resources sheep wagon and other wagons in parades and events around the state.
1:00 PM - 7:30 PM - Historic Governor's Mansion Tours
Free Cheyenne Trolley Transportation between Spiker Parking Garage, Historic Governor's Mansion and South Supreme Court Lawn
Wyoming Historic Governors' Mansion is located at 300 E 21st St. in Cheyenne.From 1905 to 1976, the Mansion was the residence of 19 Wyoming first families. Governors, First Ladies, their children and pets lived and entertained in the home over the course of 71 years. From the first First Family to live in the house with their five children, to the nation’s First Female Governor, Nellie Tayloe Ross, the home has been host to family dinners, formal state events and dignitaries from around the country. In October 1976, Governor Ed Herschler moved from what is now called the Historic Governors’ Mansion to the new Governor’s Residence located near Frontier Park. In July 1977, the mansion opened to the public as a historic house museum, embracing the lives and stories of the many people who visited and resided in the home.
1:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Wyoming State Museum's Behind the Scenes/Collection tours
The Wyoming State Museum was established in 1895 and has been collecting, preserving, and interpreting a wide variety of artifacts ever since. These collections represent life in Wyoming from prehistoric times to the present. The Museum oversees thousands of artifacts including items crafted and used by Native Americans to manufactured goods purchased and used by today’s residents.
2:00 PM - 8:30 PM - Public Tours of the Capitol Square Project
The Capitol Square project was comprised of four interrelated construction projects:
The Capitol has undergone extensive rehabilitation to replace outdated building systems, add critical life safety infrastructure, and address public space needs, especially the need for larger meeting rooms. This invasive work created the opportunity to restore historic building features;
The Capitol Extension, the below-grade building that connects the Capitol to the Herschler Building has been expanded by 28,000 square feet to accommodate public space needs that could not be met in the Capitol, including large public meeting rooms, as well as space for a future auditorium, visitor’s center, and student learning center;
The Herschler Building has been remodeled and expanded by 56,000 square feet to house functions displaced from the Capitol. The atrium on the north side of the building has been removed to improve building efficiency and security, and to restore views to the Capitol;
The existing central utility plant, serving five state buildings, has been replaced, relocated, and expanded by 15,000 square feet to accommodate additional equipment.
2:00 PM - 2:55 PM - 67th Army Band
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Book signing of A History of Wyoming Capitol
Book signing of A History of Wyoming Capitol by Starley Talbott & Linda Graves Fabian, Wyoming State Museum Store
Prior to Wyoming becoming the forty-fourth state in the Union on July 10, 1890, the territorial legislature passed a bill authorizing the construction of a capitol at a maximum cost of $150,000. Governor Warren signed the bill on March 4, 1886, and appointed the Capitol Building Commission, which purchased a site on Hill Street, now Capitol Avenue, at a cost of $13,100. Many changes have occurred since the 1887 laying of the cornerstone. Recent renovations upgraded the capitol’s Classical style and striking gold-leaf dome. The most important room, where women’s right to vote began, has been restored to its original grandeur. Authors Starley Talbott and Linda Graves Fabian celebrate these and other historic firsts in this history of the state capitol building.
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM - Fallen Warrior Memorial Ceremony
Northwest Corner of Barrett Lawn
The event is meant to honor all Wyoming veterans who have died in service to our state and nation, and includes a flag folding ceremony and playing Taps. The memorial was dedicated in November 12, 2018 and is located on the east corner of Central Avenue and East 24th Street.
3:30 PM - 4:40 PM - Community Organization Performances
Woman Suffrage in Wyoming Territory. Scene at the Polls in Cheyenne in 1888. Photo from Library of Congress, Digital History ID 2400.
A League of Her Own Acting Troupe will perform “Wonderful Wyoming Women Voters” at 3:30 p.m. on the north lawn of the Supreme Court Building. Setting the stage for the era, the Fort D.A. Russell Post Band will play musical pieces popular during the late 1800s and the suffrage movement.
Written by Mary B. Guthrie and Rosalind Schliske, the play revolves around four Wyoming women who were critical to passing the first legislation giving women the right to vote and hold office, then to defending the effort to repeal it and, finally, to refusing to deny women’s suffrage in exchange for statehood. The cast includes Julia Bright, played by Schliske; Esther Hobart Morris, played by Denise Burke; Amalia Post, played by Guthrie, and Theresa Jenkins, played by Debra Lee. Keren Meister-Emerich will play the researcher, who time travels to interview these women.
In addition to their involvement with Wyoming suffrage, three of these women also had the most important roles in the statehood celebration on July 10, 1890. Post was the chairman of the celebration, Morris presented the state flag to the governor, and Jenkins was the primary speaker.
Ballet Wyoming will do a short performance piece with local dancers. From the originally choreographed ballet, “Alice in Wonderland,” presented by Ballet Wyoming, “Curiouser” is an adaptation that explores environment, both external and internal. These dancers will take you on an adventure as they discover their surroundings and engage with each other. You will see the power of unity and the beauty of diversity as the dancers curiosity and exploration propel you through a new and interesting journey. Ballet Wyoming’s mission is to present a wide range of dance styles and to entertain, as well as educate audiences through our performances and outreach throughout the region. Ballet Wyoming, founded in 2007, is the first ballet company to reside in Wyoming. Visit www.balletwyoming.com
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM - Ice Cream Social
Front lawn of Barrett Building
4:45 PM - 5:30 PM - Wind River Dancers
With a theme of “A Cultural Heritage Shared Through Dance and Songs,” the Wind River Dancers perform a variety of American Indian dance styles, which includes men’s traditional, grass and fancy feather and women’s fancy shawl, jingle dress and traditional. All of these dance styles are described and explained to the audience in order to share Native American culture and heritage. Included with performances are drummers and singers. The music is also explained to the audience so everyone who has an opportunity to see these performances will have a better understanding of Native American culture.
5:30 PM - 6:00 PM - Re-Dedication of Capitol Cornerstone
Cornerstone Re-Dedication at South Cornerstone of the Capitol
Re-dedication conducted by the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Wyoming
6:15 PM - 7:15 PM - The Woodpile, Indie Folk/Rock Band
In a time where genres seem to flow together and music saturates one’s daily life, The Woodpile finds a quiet, but compelling voice. The 5-piece “indie-folk-meets-rock-band” combines conventional folk instrumentation, charming storytelling, and rich vocal harmony with beautiful cello melodies, complex arrangements, and dynamic composition that take the listener on a rousing, oft somber and reflective journey. Members Evan Gwin (vocals, guitar, banjo), Brendan Ruwart (vocals, percussion, guitar, banjo), Jessie Salas (cello, vocals), Molly DeLau (cello, bass guitar), and Jesse Twitchell (electric guitar, vocals) create an intimate and dynamic stage show with frequent instrument exchanges, trading vocal leads, lush instrumental jams, and vulnerable pauses. The Woodpile has opened for nationally recognized acts in their hometown of Laramie, WY such as Shook Twins and Dustbowl Revival. Wyoming Public Radio listeners voted their EP Hunting Hearts as one of the Top Ten Wyoming Albums of 2017. They are putting the finishing touches on their debut full-length record, to be released in August of 2019.Visit http://thewoodpilemusic.com
8:00 PM - 9:30 PM - Chancey Williams and the Younger Brothers Band
Wyoming native Chancey Williams and his “Younger Brothers Band,” have relentlessly toured the Western United States, developing a rabid fan base not seen from the Cowboy State since Chris LeDoux. In fact, Chancey Williams and LeDoux are the only two people to ride in the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo (one of the most famous in the world, the touted “Daddy of ‘Em All) and play its main stage as a major entertainer. The band has shared the stage with dozens of artists, including Lady Antebellum, Old Dominion, Miranda Lambert, Eric Church, Brantley Gilbert, Gary Allan and Travis Tritt. They’ve also enjoyed many bills with Texas contemporaries Casey Donahew, Aaron Watson and Stoney LaRue. But, Williams says, nothing beats the opportunity to have occasionally been direct support for their heroes, legends like LeDoux, Alabama, Merle Haggard and Dwight Yoakam.
Chancey and his drummer, lifelong friend Travis DeWitt, started the Younger Brothers Band with the humble initial goal of entering a high school talent contest. The pair had no idea it would lead to small fairs (then big fairs), small bars (then large clubs) and become a full-time career. They are joined by the amazing harmonies and lead guitar of Wyatt Springsteen and the stunning fiddle of Brooke Latka. More recently, Jay Lee Downing joined the band on bass guitar. The result is Chancey Williams and the Younger Brothers Band, a rowdy, raucous, unapologetic, memorable stage show that is on the road pretty much all the time.
“We just love to play, travel, record our music and represent the great state of Wyoming,” said Williams, “It’s just in our blood, I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
Visit - https://chanceywilliams.com/
