Frontier Days

THE HISTORY OF CHEYENNE FRONTIER DAYS
Written by Shirley Flynn

The idea for Cheyenne Frontier Days originated on a summer day in 1897 when Warren Richardson and Colonel E. A. Black attended the Potato Day Celebration in Greeley, Colorado.

During the train ride back to Cheyenne, Black, editor of the Cheyenne Daily Sun Leader, and  Richardson, an enterprising Wyoming businessman, discussed the feasibility of such a show in Cheyenne.  They wanted to compete with the Greeley event.  They suggested it to several townspeople, and at the end of August, 1897, a committee of local businessmen met to discuss plans.  Their ideas materialized, and the very next month, September, 1897, the first Frontier Day was launched.

Eleven events filled the program on that first afternoon in 1897.  Horse racing fans had a full day of it.  Races included a quarter-mile cowpony race, a cowpony heat race (2 in 3), a cowpony race with second heat close, a half-mile free-for-all, a mile free-for-all, and a 250 yard stake race.  For those who preferred what we not consider standard rodeo events, there was the pitching and bucking of horses, wild horse racing, and steer roping.  Two special features were included in the day’s fare.  One was the ox train, stage holdup and justice by vigilantes.  The other special events included a pony express ride and a sham battle by U. S. troops from Fort D. A. Russell.

On September 23, 1897, trains came from all directions bringing over 1,500 visitors.  In addition to Cheyenne’s guests, hundreds of townspeople crowded into the grandstands at the fairgrounds and sat in wagons around the perimeter of the arena.  The next year a second day was added to the event.  The pattern was set.  Today’s events are:  rookie saddle bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, calf roping, steer roping, bull riding, bareback riding, wild horse racing, and chuckwagon racing.

Frontier Days was held on various dates in August and September until 1915.  During that year the Committee decided upon the last full week of July.  “The Daddy of ‘Em All” is still observed at that time.  

In 1903 two important changes were made in Cheyenne Frontier Days.  The first was the forming of a corporation that was responsible for producing the celebration as well as managing the funds which were gradually accumulating.

The second significant event of 1903 was the visit to Cheyenne by President Theodore Roosevelt.  A “special edition” of Frontier Days was held for President Roosevelt in May of that year.  It was complete with all the hoopla.

Previous to 1908 all of the rodeos had been held in Pioneer Park.  The present day Frontier Park was developed in 1908 when a steel grandstand was built on land donated by the Union Pacific Railroad.  The steel grandstand is still in use and is the foundation for the stand which now holds over 10,000 people at each performance.

In 1925 and 1926 the Frontier Days parades were upgraded from a wild gallop through town by visiting cowboys to an orderly march.  A theme, The Evolution of Transportation, was developed by starting with an Indian on horseback with a travois, town’s women in fancy carriages and floats depicting the history of the area.  Today, four over one hour-long parades delight visitors and townspeople alike.

In the 1950’s a Night Show featuring headline entertainers, Nashville style, was added.  Then, also, the celebration was extended to ten days, still encompassing the last full week of July.

The effort is still managed by a committee of civic leaders aided by a huge volunteer force.
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