Arrowhead Collection
Over 8,200 ancient stone – and a few metal – artifacts are on display at the Hot Springs County Museum. This rare collection was donated by the Stephenson family who…
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Prize Saddle
In 1914, Rufus Rolan won this saddle in the Bare Back Bucking Contest Championship of Montana Miles City Roundup. Nothing more is known about Rufus or how his prize saddle…
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Schools in the Northern Lucerne Area
In 1908, as these three coal mining camps grew, a school was built between Gebo, Kirby, and Crosby. But the location was unsatisfactory. It was too far for any of…
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Schools West of the Big Horn River
Andreen School Andreen and Belleview Schools The Andreen School was the first Belleview School. Started in 1906, in the Andreen’s cabin, it was located at the mouth of Mud Creek.…
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Schools East of the Big Horn River
Holt School Holt Schools Around 1906, at Holt, Media Basom taught a two-month school summer session in a storeroom dugout. Her fondest memory of that summer was of a little…
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Schools in the Gooseberry, Cottonwood and Grass Creek Areas
Midwest School Midwest Schools Midwest-Ohio Oil camp held school first, in 1913, and it was moved several times. Two years later, Midwest School was held in a sheep wagon in…
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Virginia Bridger Hahn
Virginia Bridger Hahn – the daughter of famed mountain man Jim Bridger – came to live her last days in Thermopolis which had always been dear to her heart. Her…
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Spinning Wheel
The spinning wheel was a symbol of the domestic home so it’s no wonder great effort was made to bring this particular one to Thermopolis! Our spinning wheel came from…
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Hair Wreath
Over 120 years ago, Elizabeth Carlisle Brown tatted this wreath – using human hair! Hair art was often a memorial to a deceased loved one, but this wreath was made…
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Sundance and Ethel: Every Picture Tells a Story
© Article by Author and Historian Mark Msanaski. Original cabinet card photograph of Sundance and Ethel, taken on February 3, 1901, at Joseph B. DeYoung’s Photographic Gallery in New York,…
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Esther at the Well
“Esther at the Well” Painting When artist, Jennie Sue Hank passed away, “Esther at the Well” went to Jennie’s oldest sister, Jessie (Hank) McManigal. Jessie and her husband Frank S.…
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Emery Hotel
Emery Hotel. A landmark from the 1900s through the 1940s. The business consisted of a hotel, cafe, bar & lounge, and taxi service.
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Wild Cat Sam
Some folks reading this may still recall hearing about an early character who went by the name Wild Cat Sam. His real name was Samuel Abernathy (1839-1928), and he spent…
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Eggenhofer Exhibit
The Hot Springs County Museum & Cultural Center is proud to exhibit the Nick Eggenhofer gallery dedicated to his artwork including many original pieces, such as a scale model of…
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1890 Square Grand Piano
Square pianos are an important part of musical history. They were used by the great pianists of the 18th and 19th centuries as well as the average citizen. In the…
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16 Mule Team Johnson
Henry Johnson came to this area (about 1896) just as the new town of Thermopolis was being established. At this time, he started freighting for the local merchants including Martin…
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Sheep Wagon
The Sheep Wagon was invented by James Candlish, a blacksmith, in 1884, at Rawlins, Wyoming. It made a snug, compact home that could be easily moved from place to place…
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Yellowstone Carriage
Yellowstone Park Transportation Company Stagecoach. The horse-drawn stagecoach was manufactured by Abbott & Downing of Concord, NH. It is signed by J.C. Chessney. Serial #17459. The coach is a flat…
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Hole-in-the-Wall Bar
Belly up to the original bar where outlaws from the Hole-in-the-Wall gang once used to visit, including the infamous Butch Cassidy! Though spirits are no longer served to patrons, it…
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Rock Cycle
A naturally formed “pot” with lichen growth. This shows an important step in the rock cycle. The lichen, as it grows will slowly eat away (erode) the rock, eventually turning…
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In Remembrance
Remembering our American heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. These particular flags were donated by American War Mothers. Stars were sewed on the flags by the families…
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Andersonville
The land where Thermopolis is currently located was once Indian Reservation. During that time, Thermopolis was located about six miles north of its current location. Across the Big Horn River…
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Honoring Dub McQueen
Cottonwood Creek Rancher, Dub McQueen, was inducted into the Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame. A display about Dub is located in the downstairs gallery of the museum giving stories about…
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