Cheyenne in Laramie County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)
Shelterbelts
Rotary Century Plaza
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 28, 2026
1. Shelterbelts Marker
History: German immigrants brought the idea of planting shelterbelts to protect farmsteads from drying winds and provide shelter for livestock, crops and homes. In the early 1930's, a severe drought triggered the "Dust Bowl" on the Great Plains, devastating over 100 million acres of farmland, impacting farms, families and communities. This prompted Franklin D. Roosevelt, in 1935, to institute a massive shelterbelt project to promote large-scale planting of trees across the Great Plains to minimize wind erosion. Much of the success of High Plains agriculture was due to shelterbelts.
Today, shelterbelts are still an important landscape feature. They provide living snow fences, wildlife habitat, and noise barriers, help conserve energy for adjacent dwellings, beautify property and increase privacy.
Habitat: Shelterbelts provide food, nesting habitat and protection from inclement weather for game birds, songbirds and wildlife. Migrating songbirds benefit from the berries and cover provided by the tree rows.
Drought Tolerance: For optimum establishment, shelterbelts must include a variety of drought-resistant trees
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Diversity: Planting different species of conifer and deciduous trees increases the overall health of a shelterbelt and reduces damage from pests. Plants are placed in increasing heights to the prevailing wind.
Implementing a Shelterbelt: An appropriate design enhances the benefits of a shelterbelt without increasing snow drifting problems. Site preparation includes soil tilling for successful root establishment. For maximum wind and snow control, shelterbelt trees are planted closer than normal landscape plantings. Weed control is essential and is achieved by using tilling or mulch. Fabric or organic mulch is preferred over tilling because roots are not disturbed and soil moisture is retained. Supplemental water is helpful in establishment and is decreased or eliminated as the trees mature.
[Diagram showing] Predicted wind reduction behind a shelterbelt.
Erected by Laramie County Conservation District, Wyoming State Forestry, Cheyenne Urban Forestry, City of Cheyenne Parks and Recreation and Concerned Citizens and Organizations.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 28, 2026
2. Sample Shelterbelt and Shelterbelts Marker
Carey Ave in right background
Location. 41° 9.442′ N, 104° 49.95′ W. Marker is in Cheyenne, Wyoming, in Laramie County. It can be reached from Carey Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Marker is adjacent to the Rotary 1900s Century Plaza in the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4603 Lions Park Dr, Cheyenne WY 82001, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Laramie Basin. It is also in the American Mountain West, on the Great Plains, and specifically on the High Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 1929 Farmall "Regular Series" Tractor (here, next to this marker); Gene Howard (a few steps from this marker); 1800s Cheyenne Area Garden (a few steps from this marker); 1900s Cheyenne Area Garden (a few steps from this marker); Union Pacific Steam Engine #1242 (within shouting distance of this marker); Rotary Century Plaza (within shouting distance of this marker); Floyd and Edna Young Folk Art Fence (within shouting distance of this marker); 1700s Cheyenne Area Garden (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cheyenne.
Also see . . . Windbreaks and Shelterbelts: Are they really worth it? (Montana State Univ Extension). (Submitted on November 1, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 1, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 1, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
