Wyoming's Most Famous Dog: Thornburgh

Fort Bridger is one of Wyoming's most historic sites. Established as a trading post in 1842, it became a popular resting place for weary travelers on the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails.

It's also the final resting place of Wyoming's most legendary dog, "Thornburgh".

Thornburgh was just a puppy when he was discovered by Army soldiers in 1879 after a fight near the White River Indian Agency in Colorado. He was named for Major T.T. Thornburgh, who had died in battle earlier that day.

The puppy eventually followed the Army platoon to Fort Bridger and became a trusted camp companion.

Known as the "Pony Express Stable Dog", Thornburgh was credited with several heroic acts. He chased down and captured a thief from the commissary, warned the camp of an impending attack, and rescued a drowning boy.

In perhaps his most daring feat of service, Thornburgh intervened during a knife fight between two soldiers, biting the would-be assailant on the wrist and forcing him to drop his weapon. Legend has it, Thornburgh even survived a stab wound during the incident.

In 1888, Thornburgh died after being kicked by a mule and was honored with a full military burial.

Buck Buchanan, who had taken in Thornburgh several years earlier, was so distraught that he purchased a marble headstone which reads, "Man never had a better, truer, braver friend. Sleep on old fellow, We'll meet 'Across the Range'."

Nearly 128 years after his death, Thornburgh's memorial remains one of the most popular attractions at the Fort Bridger State Historic Site.

MORE: Wyoming Cemetery Haunted By Ghost Of Heroic Dog

Wyoming State Archives

From Bison to Triceratops - All of Wyoming's Official Things

Every state in our nation has chosen things that represent the state in one way or another to be official state things. Like a flower, or animal. Wyoming is no different.

The Equality State, or the Cowboy State, depending on which state slogan you want to go with, has a state flower. But did you know we also have a state tree and a state fish? Yes, we even have a state code.

To be an official thing, a member of the state legislature must write and submit a bill to the legislature declaring that a thing will be the official state thing. Then the legislature votes to pass the bill, or not, if it passes, the governor signs the bill into law and we have a new official state thing.

Here is what we have so far, all of Wyoming's official things. Now you can win big on Wyo Trivia Night if that's a thing that exists.

- From Bison to Triceratops - All of Wyoming's Official Things