Medicine Bow #32 Radio Beacon, Wyoming, 2006.
Medicine Bow building looking northeast.  Typical of government built beacon sites,
this building is 14X22 feet with a 51 foot airway tower.  About 2/3 the way up the
tower you can see the catwalk that leads out to the windsock.  Between the building
and the tower extends the sidewalk terminating in an arrow pointing towards
the next beacon site, in this case, pointing to Rock River beacon.  The whole affair
was lighted from overhead so it could be seen at night. 

Construction started in 1929 and was completed in 1930.  According to the Aircraft
Year Book, this site was the last station constructed to complete the entire NYC-SFO
Low Frequency Range system.  The building in this photo is very solid.  It's two rooms,
one for living quarters and the other, a much smaller room, contained the radio gear and
later in history, teletype.  It was heated with a coal stove and electric power was supplied
locally to operate the electrical equipment.  In case of power failure a 550 gallon fuel tank
(missing) supplied fuel to run a generator. The fuel tank was normally located between
the caretakers quarters (above building) and the beacon tower.

Historical note:  The Union Pacific Railroad is very close and Highway 30, the first to
connect the Midwest with the West is 1 1/2 miles away.  The Overland Trail from the
1800's is very close and of course this Low Frequency Airway.  They all converge at
this point!

Mr. Wolff is looking for assistance in restoring this site to it's original condition. 

Photos and information submitted by Steve Wolff, Laramie, WY.

Return to Facility Photos home page.