Descendants

Their Blood
Is in This Iron

Every mile of rail, every ton of coal, came from somewhere — from someone. Their ancestors immigrated from other countries to do this work, and built communities and lives here in Wyoming. The descendants who carry these stories forward are not historians looking in from the outside. They are family. What follows are the panels they designed and the stories they chose to share — in their own words.

Cheyenne

Stories From
Cheyenne

Descendant storytellers who call Cheyenne home today. Their families settled directly in Cheyenne, while some arrived by way of the coal camps of western Wyoming. Their panels and memories anchor High Iron's Cheyenne residency.

Ancestors from Greece

Maren Kallas

Cheyenne, Wyoming

"The Greeks in Cheyenne were known for owning confectionaries and restaurants — places where travelers could have a meal, and friends could meet and feel at home."

Maren Kallas panel 1
Panel 1
Maren Kallas panel 2
Panel 2
Ancestors from Italy

Frank Profaizer

Cheyenne, Wyoming

"The man was Remo Beghetto, owner of Wyoming Tile and Terrazzo in Cheyenne. He asked my father if he wanted a job. My father had one question: Where's Cheyenne?"

Frank Profaizer panel 1
Panel 1
Frank Profaizer panel 2
Panel 2
Ancestors from Italy

Rick Giovale

Cheyenne, Wyoming

"To understand why Silvio J. Giovale, M.D. became one of Cheyenne's most beloved family physicians…you have to start here, in the coal camps."

Rick Giovale panel 1
Panel 1
Rick Giovale panel 2
Panel 2
Laramie

Stories From
Laramie

Descendant storytellers who call Laramie home today. Their families may have first settled here, or elsewhere in Wyoming — but each of them is a Laramie community member, and their panels and memories anchor High Iron's debut residency.