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
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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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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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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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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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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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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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 as the sheep grazed across the range during the years. The wagon displayed here was used for many years in…
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Hole-in-the-Wall gang
The Wilcox train robbery was an infamous heist pulled off by the Hole-in-the-Wall gang in 1899 at a remote area in Wyoming. According to William Simpson, grandfather of Senator Al Simpson, Tom Skinner put some of the Wilcox loot in his safe. This included burnt bank notes, coins and gold…
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Andersonville
Thermopolis was located about six miles north of its current location. Across the Big Horn River from “Old Town” Thermopolis was a village known as Andersonville, named after three Anderson brothers who homesteaded the area. One of the original cabins from Andersonville was removed log by log, and reassembled in…
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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 late 1800s, Square Grands increased in length, from an average of 6′ during the 1830s to 1850s to about 7′…
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