Wyoming
AA-2026-D6FBC2
On the image
A man in a light blue t-shirt and jeans strikes a confident pose next to a large wooden sign announcing his arrival in Wyoming. This ritual of documenting one's presence at an arbitrary geographical boundary, usually after hours of driving, is a core component of the American road trip experience.
The sign itself, beyond its primary function as a state marker, provides a detailed geological description of the Sherman Mountains, explaining their ancient origins and rock formations. This serves as a reminder that whilst the traveller is merely passing through, the land itself has been engaging in complex, slow-motion processes for millennia, largely indifferent to human timelines.
He wears sunglasses and looks directly at the camera, embodying the casual optimism of a 1970s traveller pausing to mark a moment, perhaps for a photo album that would later be shared with a captive audience of relatives.
The historian's note
The image captures a traveller posing at a welcome sign for the state of Wyoming, specifically noting the Sherman Mountains, during the 1970s. Such roadside markers are common features of American highway infrastructure, serving both to orient travellers and to provide brief educational information about local geography, history, or geology.
The Sherman Mountains, located in southeastern Wyoming, are known for their distinctive granite formations, which are ancient erosional remnants of the Laramie Range. They are a significant geological feature in the region, offering insights into millions of years of Earth's history.
This scene reflects the widespread popularity of road trips and automobile tourism in the United States during the mid-20th century. Stopping at state line signs and scenic markers became a customary part of the travel experience, often documented through personal photography.
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Man Posing at Wyoming State Sign, Sherman Mountains, 1970s. 1970–1979. Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library, AA-2026-D6FBC2. https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/man-posing-at-wyoming-state-sign-sherman-mountains-1970s.
@misc{aaAA2026D6FBC2,
title = {Man Posing at Wyoming State Sign, Sherman Mountains, 1970s},
year = {1970–1979},
howpublished = {Archive \& Atlas, Historical Image Library},
note = {Accession AA-2026-D6FBC2},
url = {https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/man-posing-at-wyoming-state-sign-sherman-mountains-1970s}
}TY - ART TI - Man Posing at Wyoming State Sign, Sherman Mountains, 1970s PY - 1970–1979 PB - Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library AN - AA-2026-D6FBC2 UR - https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/man-posing-at-wyoming-state-sign-sherman-mountains-1970s ER -
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