When i was 12 years old, my older sister got a job working as a horse packer in the wind river mountains of Wyoming. She mailed the money for a plane ticket back to upstate NY where we were from, and a few days later mom was putting me on a United airlines 747 at JFK airport bound for Casper Wyoming. By the end of that summer i knew i was born to live the cowboy life. At 16 i dropped out of school and ran away from home. My sense of direction was a little off, cuz my first attempt at hitchhiking across the Country found me in Corinth Mississippi. Soon enough though, mom realized i wasn't gonna give up...and she bought a small horse ranch in western Montana in the Bitterroot Valley. Mom's gone ten years now...but i'm still here in the valley.

The hardiness of those people is utterly amazing. It puts all of us to shame.

Thanks to all who keep the west alive . I applaud all those who put together this video and the families and pioneers that made this country great . Without a doubt this is one of the best stories I’ve ever heard or seen and someday I hope to come and see that part our great country.

Loved this video! I live in the area, and I knew Jim and Rich Dunrud. Sadly, Jim passed away a couple of years ago. He was a very friendly and soft spoken man. One time in about 2012, on the road to, Kirwin, I met up with Jim and he had slid off the road in his truck and was stuck! 5 minutes and a cable got him free and clear! I remember him telling me the stories about George Putnam and Amelia Earhart.

What a wonderful glimpse into history. Really incredible example of human ability and potential. I grew up in a small ranching town in Colorado, and we frequently visited Wyoming. Ive been living on the east coast for 15 years and when I heard "western hospitality" it really hit me. There is still a hospitality you'll only get out west. It made me miss the old cowboys that used to tell stories, and teach us such valuable lessons. Great documentary!

Wyoming was one of the states I had on my list for retirement (after being in the Navy with a man from Torrington). Then my motorcycle accident and my broken bones with rods and screws couldn't stand the cold. Bummer. This video is superb, experiencing places I would never get to visit for real. You are not the only ones who mourn the loss of Amelia Earhart. I was not yet 2YO when she was lost but I recognize the value of her desire and what she was able to achieve by July 1937. RIP Amelia.

Boy, i sure do miss this certain type of Nostalgic documentaries. Simply something of the past how they did it! Even tough to look back at how long ago the 90s & Early-2000s were. My childhood. The new films are completely a different breed than of those back then the Films like these will never die. Thanks!

This was a very interesting review of Kirwin WY and the people that were there. History and historical sites should always be preserved so that others can look back and appreciate what others have accomplished to have a better understanding as to where we came from and the struggles conquered to get here. Thanks for the look back.

That’s a historic place and it’s so sad to see it’s falling into disrepair. Places like that should be repaired and preserved for generations to come.

As a Brit, I do envy you your amazing wide open spaces. A wonderful programme of connections that I enjoyed immensely. Many thanks.

Great documentary... a History to be cherished... and is by beautiful people. The part of Amelia’s loss brought, as always, tears to my eyes... Since the first day I saw her picture, I fell in love with her... a beautiful strong independent woman that was working for the betterment of our society.

Loved the story. It is such a precious documentary of the area. I had heard that Amila Earhart was living or going to Live in Wyoming, now I know the rest of the story.

Whom ever made this video for Wyoming PBS did a wonderful job. It helped explain several question I had about the short mining boom in Grand County Colorado in the early1880s. Thank you Wyoming PBS.

Subscribed! This, without a doubt, is one of the best documentaries of this era I have ever seen! I adore those pictures that guy took….so beautiful. I’ve always been fascinated by this life. A new follower from Tasmania, Australia. Keep up the excellent work. Rob

incredible story and history. These town are all over the west but the history is long forgotten. Thanks for saving this one.

Really well documented film about this remote place. And it seems although life was hard back then ...it was also worthwhile. The beauty of Kirwin and the area is outstanding! But it seems to have won out... even after so many struggled to make it there. Although lots of ordinary everyday people tried to make a life there, and due to it,s remoteness, it had this connection with two very famous people....Many thanks for this footage, really informative.

I'm really impressed with the quality of the documentary's uploaded here, far, far better than the utter rubbish that the History and Discovery channels etc churn out these days. Nicely shot and narrated, no stupid out of place music and most importantly I actually learn something from this sort of content. Who on earth wants to pay to watch staged reality shows when excellent programs like this are available free of charge.

Wyoming PBS has some of the best video's on UKposts, thanks

This was very informative and entertaining. I love Wyoming, a place like nowhere else.

The best information you get is exactly what you got. I don't care the topic, I could sit and talk to (no disrespect) Old Timers all day long. I was lucky, I was close to my Papa I was in my early forties when he passed. He could ramble on about the old days as we sat hullin peas. I sure miss him.

Excellent documentary and will help secure history of this area a while longer. Hard working Americans who came before us sure lived a tough, rugged existence.

I grew up in Billings and traveled extensively through Montana and Wyoming but I had never heard of this place. What a delight to find this video!

WOW, very interesting and intertwined stories. I’ve driven across Wyoming a few times in my life but never thought about it’s history to any great degree, that’s changed now. Thank you so much for producing and sharing this video.

This is a marvelous video, Thanks so much. Wyoming is so beautiful. The history is rich, and the information about Amelia was amazing. I remember those Dude ranches that everyone wanted to go to.Also remember the furniture, it was made to last. I'd like to live there in that area. Beautiful country!

I have been in there. I had wore the ground a good deal crawling out of the hole and dragging out so many things. So I fixed that as good as I could from the outside by scattering dust on the place, which covered up the smoothness and the sawdust. Then I fixed the piece of log back into its place, and put two rocks under it and one against it to hold it there, for it was bent up at that place and didn’t quite touch ground. If you stood four or five foot away and didn’t know it was sawed, you wouldn’t never notice it; and besides, this was the back of the cabin, and it warn’t likely anybody would go fooling around there.

Enjoyed watching and learning. Give me some America West history. I have a picture of my grandparents waiting for cattle to pass on a Wyoming highway from the early 70s during one of their cross country trips from their home in Wilmington, Delaware. Their travels helped to continue my love of culture and history, culminating in a M.A. in history.

tough, tenacious, savvy, inventive - these people have my utmost respect and admiration. have we squandered this inheritance?

thanks for posting! this was a great collection of stories revolving around the Double Dee ranch, including Amelia Earhart and her last journey at about 45:00

It's pretty wild how all these different charismatic people from all over the country seemed to link up. Great documentary!

This is a terrific video by Wyoming PBS about a beautiful area of the country. Thank you Wyoming PBS!

I watch these old videos, even videos as late as from the 80’s and it’s self evident that things were better.

A truly wonderful tribute and amazing look at bygone days that should never be forgotten! What a life lived by those pioneers . . .

I was a flier for 40 years and vacations for the last 8 years were spent in a off grid cottage in the Cambrian Mountains of Wales. Excellent video.

I have to share this with my family we’re from Greybull Wyoming. Fantastic video taught me a lot. Thank you for sharing.

listening this in Cambridge UK, its so well remembered and said, must congratulate all historians thank you :-)

Love it!!’ Thank you for the First Nation perspectives.

Awesome film! Who would have thought that Amelia Earhart would have such ties to Wyoming? I learned a lot watching. Thank you.

A great piece of history with awesome photographs. Thanks for the upload, PBS!

Thanks to the people who put this interesting historical film together. I enjoyed it.

Hard to believe these old building are still standing after all this time

Wonderful overview of this amazing place and the peoples who were drawn to it. Thanks for sharing!

I watched this a few months ago and enjoyed it so much that I subscribed to your channel. It rotated into my recommended videos again this morning. It was a pleasure to watch again. I have enjoyed many of your videos. Thanks for your uploads.

Great video. Very interesting and informative. Thank you for posting.

What a beautiful place! Thank you for this lovely presentation!

Absolutely wonderful. By far, the best thing i have seen on UKposts.

Well done video, narrative, and quality thank you, PBS, and the people of Wyoming for such and incredible videos.

Great job Wyoming PBS. Enjoy your shows so much!

Great video and history. Love the old photos.❤

Marvelous wonderful country. Served a mission in rock springs someways my heart remains there

I am so glad for this video. It's nice to see my Wyoming beauty again. Loved the Earhart part and the restoration efforts. Thank you.

I love historical stories thanks for this

I have been to Kirwin...awesome place...thanks for all the history, great job

History is fascinating THANKS for the video

I live in Alaska, and love Wyoming PBS. The classic furniture of the frontier could be a show on its own!

Fantastic, informative, and down right interesting history!

That was really interesting and very enjoyable to watch. I learned a lot that I didn't know that part of the world and a lot that I didn't know about Amelia as well. Thanks for sharing it here!!

I loved this so much! Please make more if this great content.😊

Excellent video. I absolutely loved it! I would very much like to visit Kerwin. Thank you for this.

Agree with wkh51's comment. Been associated with WY since 1961 adventure at Teton Valley Ranch Camp in Kelly, WY which experienced all sorts of natural disaster and bold history of Jim Bridger. The "native" men and women are adventurers and risk takers beyond description. Thank you Wyoming PBS.

Wow, this was wonderfully Informative. Thank you for this

Been threw Wyoming would love to live there ! The sky is so clear, at night it seems like u can touch the sky . The sky is really black at night . The people out there r really laid back . Beautiful country !

Just today I discovered your channel on UKposts. I subscribed. I love PBS programs. I began watching OPB as a native Portland Oregonian. The first video on your channel was about the Historical events of Kirwin, Wyoming. It was a double learning experience for me, regarding Kirwin and Amelia Earhart! I want to thank everyone involved in creating this heart warming video! In May of 1995 I drove from LaGrande, Oregon to Texas. We traveled through the southern region of Wyoming, fascinated by the Rolling waves, it's beauty and the remote feelings I was left with. I'll never forget the off roadside market we stopped at. The sun was setting, and bats were flying about just above us. That experience embedded an ever lasting pleasurable memory in my heart and soul. So did this video.

I got to say I didn't really want to watch this video but I'm glad I did. Well made

I lived in Sheridan Wyoming for awhile my husband was on an oil crew from Texas looking for oil. I lived next door to Wild Bills home a big mansion turned museum i believe. It was nice but rather isolated for a city girl like me. But i enjoyed seeing Wyoming seemed the last frontier more so than Alaska were i lived also. I was about 19 or 20 in Wyoming.

brilliant, well worth the time watching

Yhank you for a Great film about Wyoming's History ! Good Job.I would love to visit !

Excellent documentary, thanks for sharing this.

What an amazing adventure this video has been. Thank you 😊

What a great video of a place I have seen first hand. So much history there and this video really brings out that other side of the history you just don't know...Thank you for posting this!

Well done film! Music was appropo as well. I never knew any of this sort of history of the "west," & am glad I learned. Thank you very much for this presentation.

Absolutely fasinating history and characters!Superb production👍

Fantastic to learn about this story 😃💞 and to see all of this.. Buildings and everything 😃🙌 thank you very much! And very well presented documentary 💖🙂👏👏👏

Awesome history and video. as a caged bird i would love to experience scenery like that. Thank you for sharing this documentary with us :)

That's was great history documentary . I appreciate you for sharing with me.

Thanks for a great documentary.

Thank you so much! We loved this video.

What a wonderful story. Thanks for your beautiful filmmaking .

This was a very nice video, I only wish I could have lived throughout those years. Hats off to the men and women that restorex and lived that time.

As usual I really enjoyed the stories and I listen every chance I get.

Terrific historical account of times past. Give credit to all those who had the interest and wherewithal to bring this film into the light. I enjoyed all of it.

I realy love this story ! love America !

What a great and informative video. Wyoming is easy to fall in love with!!

Makes me homesick for Wyoming, and for youth. I'm far too old for that now, but we knew ... oh yes, we knew ... the love and adventure of a younger land! Or perhaps, the adventure of love in a younger land? Anyhoot, it's been a good run. I just wish there was more of it. And when I see youth today, I just hope they know ... how good it can be.

Loved it. From start to finish.

I lived a year in Gillette Wyoming & that was enough for me! Beautiful state, nice to visit!

Very interesting. Informative speakers and good narration.

What gentleman. So enjoyed thanks. Peace from the Keys

Beautiful and informative, that was great learning. Thankyou so much. Looks like a great place to live

Fascinating, thank you.

True history, nice I really really enjoyed this. Thank you

At work right now, but want to watch this tonight at home. Sounds like a fascinating piece of history on a small mining community that unfortunately died with the industry as so many did back then.

Marvelous absolutely What a great show ,people in there quest for exploration and there will to overcome is amazing. 💚💚💚💚💪💪💪💪🤙🤙🤙🤙

Awesome story. Plain and simple.

I would love to spend some time here, what a breathtaking view an amazing part of history. I would definitely bring a telescope, I can only imagine how beautiful the sky is at night!

Great production! Really well out together

Fascinating. PBS is always an excellent watch

Enjoyed this very much. Thx 😊

Amazing film, amazing scenery. amazing people with stunning history. Thanks so much for putting this up

Love history of times before , and learning from it . Thank you Wyoming PBS .

Love this story.Absolutly love it.xx