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Past Events

Museum hosting special map and compass class

Museum staff member Dick Blust sits at a table with a globe before a table of students in the Museum's classroom. Text reads: 'Sweetwater County Historical Museum staff member Dick Blust teaching last year's 'Map and Compass for kids' class. This year's event is scheduled for 10:00 AM on Wednesday, June 29 at the Museum in Green River. For more information or to sign up, call (307)-872-6435.

(Sweetwater County, Wyo. - June 23, 2022)    The Sweetwater County Historical Museum will host a special class for young students on Wednesday, June 29.

“Map and Compass for Kids” is geared toward students who want to learn about navigation. Participants will learn the basics of street maps, topographic maps, map reading, direction orienting, and the use of a compass, followed by a “compass walk” at nearby Centennial Park.

There is no charge for the course, and all materials are provided.

The class is scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM on the 29th, and lasts less than two hours.

The museum is located at 3 E. Flaming Gorge Way in Green River. For questions or to sign up, call (307) 872-6435.

Students attend History Fair 2022

Dennis Freeman stands in a recretation Hudson Bay Coat in front of a wooden wall in Centennial Park with a gun and other period items.Landry Roskelley stands in tradtiional regalia from the 19th century inside his tipi with other period recreation items.Stan Blake stands at his railroad themed station in the park in his railroad outfit including overalls.Board Member Richelle Rawlings-Carroll stands before a wooden calf cutout showing students how to brand a cow with a stamp.Mike Masterson stands at his mining themed station in the park serving as the goal in his coal scuttle relay race, students race with coal scuttles back to their friends waiting in line for their turn.

Photo #1 - Dennis Freeman of Green River, here wearing a period-accurate Hudson’s Bay coat, spoke about mountain man life, gear, weapons, and clothing (Bud Allen photo).

 

Photo #2 - Landry Roskelley, an authority on Plains Indian history and culture, does his presentations inside his own tipi, which he brings to every History Fair event

 

Photo #3 - Stan Blake, himself a retired career railroader, supervising the simulated railroad spike-driving activity

 

Photo #4 - Richelle Rawlings-Carroll handling the calf-branding activity

 

Photo #5 - Mike Masterson’s coal and trona mining presentation included coal scuttle races

 

(Sweetwater County, Wyo. - May 12, 2022)     Dave Mead, Executive Director of the Sweetwater County Historical Museum in Green River, expressed his special thanks to the volunteers and others who made possible this year’s four-day Third Grade History Fair, May 10 through May 13.

Over 700 students from all over the county took part this year. Each received a guided tour of the museum, reviewed special exhibits and demonstrations about ranching, mining, mountain men, Native Americans, and the railroad at Centennial Park, and participated in hands-on activities grounded in frontier history such as gold panning, making their own butter, simulated calf branding, and simulated railroad spike-driving.

Among the volunteers who made this year’s event possible:

  • Bud Allen
  • Stan Blake
  • Diane Butler
  • Sarah Crow
  • Dennis Freeman
  • Mike Masterson
  • Richelle Rawlings-Carroll
  • Landry Roskelley
  • Emilio Sanchez
  • Madeline Trujillo-Hamel
  • Carrie Tuttle

 

Mead also expressed his appreciation to Sweetwater County School Districts #1 and #2, which provided bus transportation for the students; Brad Raney, Debbie Hansen, and Chuck Bryan of  Green River Parks & Recreation, for making possible the use of Centennial Park; Community Service Officer Ashton Robinson of the Green River Police Department, Assistant Chief Larry Erdmann of the Green River Fire Department; Jarod Ball, Adam Rodabaugh, Marshall Burt, and Anna Rywelski of the Union Pacific Railroad; the Tynsky Law Office, and special thanks to Bill Taliaferro for the use of his sheep camp.

VINTAGE PIANO WILL BE THE CENTERPIECE OF A COUNTY CHRISTMAS EXHIBIT

 
This vintage Gulbransen upright piano will be the center piece of the 2021 Sweetwater County Christmas Exhibit. It was a gift to the Community of Green River by the General Federation of Women's Clubs and the Women's Club of Green River in 1928. It will be played by County Treasurer Joe M. Barbuto during the exhibit's Holiday Open House on December 11, 2021.A Christmas morning from long ago at the Gaensslen house in Green River. The Sweetwater County Historical Museum is preparing a special Christmas exhibit at the County Courthouse in Green River set to open on December 6, 2021. An exhibit open house is scheduled for December 11, featuring live music, family activities, and refreshments.
December 2, 2021
A fully-functioning vintage piano will serve as the centerpiece of a special Christmas exhibit being prepared by the Sweetwater County Historical Museum and sponsored by the County Commission and other county departments.
The exhibit will be on display in the Community Room in the basement of the Sweetwater County Courthouse from December 6 through the end of the year. The exhibit will showcase an old-time Christmas, including vintage toys and musical instruments, holiday decorations, and historical holiday photographs from around Sweetwater County.
A Holiday Open House special event will be held on Saturday, December 11, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM in the Courthouse Community Room. In addition to the exhibit, there will be family activities, children's crafts and games, live music, and refreshments.
Museum Director Dave Mead said the piano, a Gulbransen upright, was presented to the Community of Green River by the General Federation of Women's Clubs and the Women’s Club of Green River in 1928. The piano has been part of the museum’s collection since it was founded in 1967.
The piano has been in storage in the courthouse basement since the museum was moved from the courthouse to its current location in 2001. Garry McLean, Director of County Human Resources, recently arranged to bring the piano out of storage and have it tuned for the event.
The exhibit will be open to the public during normal courthouse hours from December 6 through December 30, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The courthouse will be closed for holidays on December 24 through December 27, and December 31.
 
 
 

Junior Kindergartners Visit Museum

Left: Ms. Brownlee's class of junior kindgergartners from Truman Elementary stand in front of the John Wesley Powell statue with Public Engagement Coordinator Aidan Brady. Right: junior kindergartners sit on a buffalo robe in the museum gallery while Public Engagement Coordinator Aidan Brady demonstrates on local animals with pelts and skulls. The text on the bottom reads: 'The museum received some fun visitors today; a Kindergarten class from Truman Elementary School in Green River. The class was treated to a special gallery tour by Public Engagement Coordinator Aidan Brady and got to listen to one of his talks sitting on a real buffalo robe!

Ms. Brownlee's class of Junior Kindergartners from Truman Elementary visited the museum and got a special tour with Public Engagement Coordinator Aidan Brady. The students were there especially to see the annual Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Ofrenda exhibit which tied into their current unit.