February 6

1899 Spanish American War ends.

The Spanish American War was the first American War that the state of Wyoming participated in. Even during the Indian Wars the state itself, which of course only became a state after the main part of the fighting was over, had very little in the way of a role.  The Spanish American War, however, was different.

Almost completely forgotten now, the war was controversial and not well received in some parts of the East.  In the West, however, it was enthusiastically approached.  Wyoming was one of the locations where volunteer cavalry regiments were formed, although Wyoming's unit, the 3d U.S. Volunteer Cavalry, never made it overseas (only the 1st U.S. Vol Cav of the volunteer cavalry regiments did).  Tragically, Wyoming's contribution did sustain serious casualties including deaths in a train accident as they were being sent to Florida prior to the invasion of Cuba.

The war is memorialized today in a memorial on the Capitol grounds.

The 3d U.S. Volunteer Cavalry is still recalled today in the form of the general form of the Wyoming Army National Guard unit patch, which features a roughrider.   Not all Wyoming Army National Guard units wear the patch, as they once did, but some still do.

2004  A  Cessna T206H crashed near Rawlins, killing the pilot.  A passenger survived.

2007  Susan S. Sorini-Wong of Laramie was issued a patent for a soil sample containment device and method.  Attribution:  On This Day.