Hot Springs County boasts a rich history filled with the tales of pioneers who ventured into this region during its early days. From trappers to Mountain Men exploring the Wind River Canyon and Hot Springs, to miners seeking their fortunes in Copper Mountain and beyond, to homesteaders bringing their families and livestock, and coalminers working at the Gebo and Crosby mines – the legacy of these individuals lives on through the photos and artifacts they left behind. Join us as we uncover the stories of these resilient men and women who journeyed to Hot Springs County, facing both triumphs and setbacks along the way.
Pioneers
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 and McGrath. When the streets of Thermopolis were being measured for the town, Johnson asked that Broadway, be made wide…
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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 is a great place to sit and imagine the sights, sounds and smells that once surrounded this icon from the…
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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 Sweden. It was taken apart and hidden in suitcases and smuggled into the United States about 1850. Spinning wheels are…
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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 many years around Thermopolis, Meeteetse and other surrounding areas. He worked in the sheep business, he was a prospector and…
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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 became the property of George Bain, the General Manager of the LU Sheep Company. The saddle was made by the…
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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, before they set sail for South America. Copies were sent to family and close friends as a fond farewell. The…
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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 father first visited Wyoming in the early 1800s and she cared for him when he went blind by 1875. Today,…
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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 his life, and exhibiting some of his memorabilia such as his saddle and chaps. Dub’s life ended prematurely when he…
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