"Cheyenne Frontier Days(TM) originated in 1897 after a few individuals conceived a signature event as a way to revive the thrilling incidents and pictures of life in the Old West. Their vision included a celebration that would bring visitors from all over the world to the capital city of Wyoming. From its beginnings, Cheyenne residents valued a rural lifestyle that inspired them to create a frontier festival. For more than a century, Cheyenne Frontier Days(TM) has been the spirit, heart, and soul of the community and the cowboy way of life. Today, it has evolved into the world's largest outdoor rodeo and celebration of its kind." -- synopsis from the back of the book