Wyoming Pioneer Memorial Museum

Last updated
Wyoming Pioneer Memorial Museum
WY-Pioneer-Museum-Logo RGB.png
A-21. Wyoming Pioneer Memorial Museum (400 W. Center, Douglas, WY) on the California, Mormon Pioneer, Oregon, and Pony Express National Historic Trails (2006) (0438c200-87c0-422c-b5f0-41812269f2ca).JPG
A-21. Wyoming Pioneer Memorial Museum (400 W. Center, Douglas, WY) on the California, Mormon Pioneer, Oregon, and Pony Express National Historic Trails (2006)
USA Wyoming location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location of the museum in Wyoming
Established1956
Location400 West Center Street
Douglas, Wyoming
Coordinates 42°45′35″N105°23′25″W / 42.7598°N 105.3904°W / 42.7598; -105.3904
TypeMuseum
OwnerState of Wyoming
Website https://wyoparks.wyo.gov/index.php/places-to-go/wyoming-pioneer-museum

The Wyoming Pioneer Memorial Museum is a state-run museum established in 1956 in Douglas, Wyoming. [1] It is located on the Wyoming State Fairgrounds.

Contents

History

In 1926, the Wyoming Pioneer Association was incorporated. This organization's stated purpose was to preserve historical knowledge, artifacts and locations, as well as providing an outlet for long-time Wyoming residents or "pioneers" to share their experiences in bringing Wyoming into statehood [2] A cabin was built to serve as a meeting place and museum on the Wyoming State Fairgrounds, but it was quickly outgrown by the increased attendance and number of artifact donations. By 1934, the Association reached out to the Wyoming state Legislature for funding for a "State Historical Exhibit."

In 1956, funds were approved for a permanent building to hold the Wyoming Pioneer Association's collection, with the facility being owned and operated by the Wyoming Department of Agriculture. In 1999, the Museum was transferred to the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources. [2]

Description

The museum focuses on the American frontier or "Old West" period, specifically the experiences of the pioneers who settled the area of what is now modern Wyoming. Exhibits relating to major events as the [Johnson County War] and the Lightning Creek and Heck Reel massacres are on display, as well as exhibits depicting the work, recreation, and domestic activities of early Wyoming settlers. Artifacts connected to the military service and wartime experiences of Wyomingites in the American Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II are also on display, alongside a sizeable collection of weaponry. There is also an expansive collection of Native American artifacts.

The Museum is operated as a part of the Wyoming State Parks system.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Museum of History</span> Canadas national museum on anthropology, ethnology, and history

The Canadian Museum of History is a national museum on anthropology, Canadian history, cultural studies, and ethnology in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. The purpose of the museum is to promote the heritage of Canada, as well as support related research. The museum is based in a 75,000-square-metre-building (810,000 sq ft) designed by Douglas Cardinal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New-York Historical Society</span> Museum and library in New York City

The New-York Historical Society is an American history museum and library in New York City, along Central Park West between 76th and 77th Streets, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The society was founded in 1804 as New York's first museum. It presents exhibitions, public programs, and research that explore the history of New York and the nation. The New-York Historical Society Museum & Library has been at its present location since 1908. The granite building was designed by York & Sawyer in a classic Roman Eclectic style. The building is a designated New York City landmark. A renovation, completed in November 2011, made the building more accessible to the public, provided space for an interactive children's museum, and facilitated access to its collections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Museum of History & Industry</span> Museum in Seattle, Washington

The Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) is a history museum in the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the largest private heritage organization in Washington state, maintaining a collection of nearly four million artifacts, photographs, and archival materials primarily focusing on Seattle and the greater Puget Sound region. A portion of this collection is on display in the museum's galleries at the historic Naval Reserve Armory in Lake Union Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Cryptologic Museum</span> Museum in Maryland, U.S.

The National Cryptologic Museum (NCM) is an American museum of cryptologic history that is affiliated with the National Security Agency (NSA). The first public museum in the U.S. Intelligence Community, NCM is located in the former Colony Seven Motel, just two blocks from the NSA headquarters at Fort George G. Meade in Maryland. The motel was purchased, creating a buffer zone between the high security main buildings of the NSA and an adjacent highway. The museum opened to the public on December 16, 1993, and now hosts about 50,000 visitors annually from all over the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Science Museum of Minnesota</span> Science museum in Minnesota, United States

The Science Museum of Minnesota is a museum in Saint Paul, Minnesota, focused on topics in technology, natural history, physical science, and mathematics education. Founded in 1907, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit institution has 385 employees and is supported by volunteers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Reserve Historical Society</span> Organization in Cleveland, Ohio

The Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS) is a historical society in Cleveland, Ohio. The society operates the Cleveland History Center, a collection of museums in University Circle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum</span> Library in Illinois

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum documents the life of the 16th U.S. president, Abraham Lincoln, and the course of the American Civil War. Combining traditional scholarship with 21st-century showmanship techniques, the museum ranks as one of the most visited presidential libraries. Its library, in addition to housing an extensive collection on Lincoln, also houses the collection of the Illinois State Historical Library, founded by the state in 1889. The library and museum is located in the state capital of Springfield, Illinois, and is overseen as an agency of state government. It is not affiliated with the U.S. National Archives and its system of libraries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Science Center</span> Science museum in California, U.S.

The California Science Center is a state agency and museum located in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, next to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the University of Southern California. Billed as the West Coast's largest hands-on science center, the California Science Center is a public-private partnership between the State of California and the California Science Center Foundation. The California Natural Resources Agency oversees the California Science Center and the California African American Museum. Founded in 1951 as the "California Museum of Science and Industry", the Museum was remodeled and renamed in 1998 as the "California Science Center". The California Science Center hosts the California State Science Fair annually.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Museum of Transport and Technology</span> Museum in Auckland

The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) is a transport and technology museum located in Western Springs, Auckland, New Zealand. It is located close to the Western Springs Stadium, Auckland Zoo and the Western Springs Park. The museum has large collections of civilian and military aircraft and other land transport vehicles. An ongoing programme is in place to restore and conserve items in the collections. This work is largely managed by volunteers but, since the passing of the Museum of Transport and Technology Act in 2000, has been supported by full-time professional museum staff. New public programmes and facilities now promote the collections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Museum of the United States Navy</span> Flagship museum of the United States Navy

The National Museum of the United States Navy, or U.S. Navy Museum for short, is the flagship museum of the United States Navy and is located in the former Breech Mechanism Shop of the old Naval Gun Factory on the grounds of the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee State Museum</span>

The Tennessee State Museum is a large museum in Nashville depicting the history of the U.S. state of Tennessee. The current facility opened on October 4, 2018, at the corner of Rosa Parks Boulevard and Jefferson Street at the foot of Capitol Hill by the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. The 137,000-square-foot building includes a Tennessee Time Tunnel chronicling the state's history by leading visitors though the museum's permanent collection, a hands-on children's gallery, six rotating galleries, a digital learning center, and a two-story Grand Hall. Exhibitions include significant artifacts related to the state's history, along with displays of art, furniture, textiles, and photographs produced by Tennesseans. The museum's Civil War holdings consists of uniforms, battle flags, and weapons. There is no admission charge for visitors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia War Museum</span> Military museum in Newport News, Virginia

The Virginia War Museum is located in Huntington Park on Warwick Blvd., Newport News, Virginia. The museum contains exhibits on American military history from 1775 to the present.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collier Memorial State Park</span> State park in Oregon, United States

Collier Memorial State Park is a state park in southern Oregon. The park is operated and maintained by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. It is located on U.S. Highway 97, approximately 30 miles (48 km) north of Klamath Falls and 105 miles (169 km) south of Bend. The park covers 146 acres (59 ha) along the Williamson River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A. R. Bowman Memorial Museum</span> History museum in Oregon

The A. R. Bowman Memorial Museum is a local history museum in Prineville, Oregon, United States. Opened in 1971, the museum is housed in the old Crook County Bank Building which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum is run by the Crook County Historical Society and highlights the history of Crook County and central Oregon. Its collection includes many original pioneer artifacts, a large railroad exhibit, ranching and timber industry displays, furniture, garments, and historic photographs. The museum also has a research library.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hill College</span> Community college in Hillsboro, Texas, U.S.

Hill College is a public community college in Hillsboro, Texas. It opened its doors in 1923, one year before North Central Texas College, which is the oldest continuously-operating community college in Texas because Hill College was closed during the 1950s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kern County Museum</span> History museum in Bakersfield, California

The Kern County Museum is a history museum located in Bakersfield, California. Its main focus is the history of Kern County. Pioneer Village, located on 16 acres (65,000 m2), contains over 50 original buildings from around the county, related to life in the late 19th century. Other features include: Lori Brock Children's Discovery Center, Black Gold exhibit, and Neon Plaza. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Okefenokee Swamp Park</span>

Okefenokee Swamp Park is located 12 miles south of Waycross, Georgia, United States. The park is accessed by taking the Vereen Bell Memorial Highway to the southern side of the Cowhouse Island. This is the northernmost entry point to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. The Okefenokee Swamp is the most extensive blackwater swamp in North America and covers over 438,000 acres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum</span> Military history museum in Minnesota, United States

The Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum is the principal activity of the Military Historical Society of Minnesota (MHSM), a non-profit educational organization chartered to preserve and explain Minnesota’s military history. It is federally recognized as a charitable 501(c)(3) organization. MHSM operates the library, archive and museum as a public–private partnership in cooperation with the Minnesota Historical Society and the Minnesota National Guard. The museum, which is open to the general public year-round, is located a few blocks inside the main gate at Camp Ripley, a state-owned 53,000 acres military training center located on the Mississippi River just north of Little Falls in central Minnesota. The museum's mission encompasses all branches of service as well as the home front and is certified by the United States Army Center of Military History and the U.S. Air Force.

Lane County History Museum, located on the county fairgrounds in Lane County in Eugene, Oregon, United States, has ongoing exhibits on the Oregon Trail, the county courthouse, historic vehicles, selections of artifacts from across the county, and photographs. The museum also provides research materials by appointment in their closed stack library, school tours, a variety of public events, and runs an annual grant program for heritage outreach projects. The museum and the Lane County Clerk's Building near the museum entrance are both administered by the Lane County Historical Society.

Wyoming Pioneer Association is an organization that aims to preserve Wyoming's pioneer history. The association was formed in 1884 and incorporated in 1926 in a small pioneer cabin located on the Wyoming State Fairgrounds in Douglas; the Wyoming legislature appropriated funds for construction of a museum at the same location in 1956, and the association expanded its facilities in 2013 to add the Ruthe James Williams Center.

References

  1. "About - Wyoming Pioneer Memorial Museum". Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites & Trails. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  2. 1 2 Wyoming Pioneer Memorial Museum Steering Committee (2016). Report of Recommendations for the Wyoming Pioneer Memorial Museum (Report). Douglas, Wyoming.