University of Wyoming
Taking the University of Wyoming as a part of Laramie, one could argue that images of this institution dominate the images of Laramie. This could well be simply a marketing ploy on behalf of those producing the images. With large numbers of students being probably the greatest ‘tourist’ force the community has, it is basic marketing to sell to these people. The people that visit the community to attend college are likely to send postcards home to their friends and family, thus making it a logical subject. Of 10 postcards of the University, 3-4 contained Prexy's pasture, particularly the statue there. As a symbol of the university this statue stands out as a distinguished and memorable feature. It is original and therefore a focusing point.
The larger community of Laramie lacks such a distinguishing marker to use a focus. Often the University postcards were collages containing 4-5 images of the university overlapping on the one card. An image of the Steamboat statue simply contains the words "Wyoming" and "The Cowboy State" on the front and the back does not identify it as being part of the University or even in Laramie. Again these images seem to focus on the University as a part of the State of Wyoming, rather than as a central point for Laramie. The University is a state institution and Laramie does not work hard to claim it for itself. Instead it uses that link to integrate itself thoroughly as a piece of the Wyoming puzzle. [Picture, Ref 6]
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