When a top rider from this part of the country is forking the hurricane deck of a sun-fishing, fuzz-tail, some of his pals are prone to sit on the rope rail of the corral, emitting advice and hollering “Powder River! Let ‘er buck!!” by way of encouragement. The 91st Division adopted that war cry during the first World War and spread it far and wide. Well, this is the famous Powder River, that enthusiasts allege is a “mile wide, an inch deep, and runs up hill.” The entire Powder River country was favorite buffalo hunting range for the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians before the day of cattle men. Many inter-tribal battles were fought in this region as well as frequent skirmishes between Indians and the U.S. troops. The country is rich in Indian lore and tales of the subsequent reign of the cattle kings.
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.