Going back well before statehood, Wyoming and other territories of the West saw their share of solar eclipses.

The Daily Yellowstone Journal reported in 1889 during another eclipse, the "Wild West" had been a good place for eclipse chasers to be in the last half of the 19th century.

The New York Herald on July 29, 1878 described the Wyoming Territory path of eclipse totality was a “Bonanza for scientist and astronomers.” It was so famous that even Thomas Edison came west for a look-see. Edison was able to measure the heat of the corona before his temporary observatory almost blew down in a Wyoming windstorm. (HA!)

The last eclipse to cross our country coast-to-coast was June of 1918. That one actually missed the Cowboy State. But if you were in Kansas, you would have had a spectacular view. An article in the Topeka Journal noted the next time an eclipse would cross such a wide area. That would be in the year 2017. No mention of whether or not they knew then the exact path is right down Main Street Casper.

More From My Country 95.5