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After nine months of negotiations, WyoHistory.org is officially independent. 

WyoHistory.org initiated its separation from the Wyoming Historical Society (WHS) in March 2025. Prior to the separation, the WHS served as the fiscal agent for WyoHistory.org, which started in 2010 as a project under the WHS umbrella. While the two organizations have been closely linked since 2010, WyoHistory.org has always maintained its independence in fundraising, hiring, and publishing decisions. 

For the past several years, WyoHistory.org considered making the change to complete independence due to its growth and maturity. Changes in the WHS compelled WyoHistory.org to finally take the leap.

During the negotiations, WyoHistory.org was unable to access its funds held by the WHS. This forced WyoHistory.org to slow and eventually pause publishing, which it resumed in late July of this year.

As WyoHistory.org resumes its work, it will continue with the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund grant project, “Contexts of Wyoming History,” using Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) “contexts” as bases for new WyoHistory articles. The contexts are high-quality, academic work, and the new articles based on them will fill in significant gaps in the WyoHistory.org encyclopedia.

WyoHistory.org is also in the process of establishing itself as 501(c)(3) non-profit. During this process, the Wyoming Historical Foundation and the American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming have agreed to serve as WyoHistory.org’s temporary fiscal agents, with contracts to ensure financial transparency. If you would like to support the future of WyoHistory.org, please send checks made out to the “American Heritage Center”, with “WyoHistory.org Excellence Fund” in the memo, and mail to: 

American Heritage Center 
Attention: Business Manager

Dept 3924

1000 E. University Avenue

Laramie, WY 82071