Evanston -  History and Recreation All in One Spot

Evanston was founded in 1868 as a railroad town when Union Pacific crews worked on the railroad infrastructure in this part of the country.  Life in the small communities near that railway was harsh and insecure. In the same year, a physical confrontation in Old Bear Town between thieves and robbers on one hand and a group of upstanding residents, on the other, resulted in the death of 30 people. This led the demise of Old Bear Town, whereas Evanston prospered as an important shipping and commercial center, attracting many people to settle in this promising area.     

Evanston is located in the southwest parts of Wyoming, perching right on the border between Utah and Wyoming. Evanston also lies at the intersection between roadways leading to popular resorts, such as Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, Teton, Wind River Area, the Pinedale, Flaming Gorge, and High Uinta Wilderness area. This strategic proximity to such destinations contributes to a healthy tourist business, as it is often a pleasant stop in the itinerary, although not always the final point of the excursion. Evanston has a multitude of dining places, lodgings and markets catering to all the necessary provisions for further traveling. Evanston is a delightful recreation hub offering hunting, hiking, fishing, biking, wildlife exploring, camping, and backpacking, surrounded by majestic mountain peaks from all sides.    

The California National Historic Trail is one of the attractions passing through Evanston. During the middle of the 19th century the road to California with its gold mines and fertile farmlands brought more than 250,000 people, dazzled by the gold rush. In fact, this process turned out to be one of the most massive migration movements that have ever occurred in the United States. Remnants of this 1,000-mile-long trail can still be spotted in the West, reminding of the struggles and the hopes of the early settlers who crossed the trail.    

Fossil Butte National Monument features a huge collection of fossilized mammals, birds, fish, insects and plants preserved in great detail, The southwestern parts of Wyoming's cold sagebrush desert are a genuine treasure for excellently preserved fossils.    
Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail marked the way that nearly 70,000 people, led by Brigham Young, walked to avoid the religious persecution from 1846 - 1869. The 1300-mile-long trail still retains bridges, constructions and other facilities.    

If you happen to be in Evanston during Labor Day in September, you will be given the incredible opportunity to feel the sensation of real frontier life during the Mountain Man Rendezvous festival.