Before Wyoming Territory: Passage on the Oregon/California/Mormon Trail

This month we feature an early historical site.

An important crossing in future Sweetwater County, Wyoming

A ford, ferry and stage station made up bustling little Green River Station, where the Oregon/California/Mormon Trail crossed the Green River—part of Green River County, Utah until Wyoming became a territory. Serving emigrants, passengers, freighters and the Pony Express, the station died after the transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869. Read more in Dick Blust’s article, “Crossing the River at Green River Station.”

Calendar Events

Campbell County Rockpile Museum, Gillette, Wyo
NE Wyoming 1491: Campbell County Rockpile Museum Archeology Fair 2022
Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Come celebrate Wyoming Archaeology Awareness Month for a day packed with interactive experiences that will demonstrate how the work of archaeology informs us of what life was like in Northeast Wyoming before European contact. Free admission. For more information, click here.
 
Homesteader Museum, Powell, Wyo.
Homesteader Days Festival
Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
This event celebrates the days of homesteading and farming with a vintage truck and tractor show, antique machinery demonstrations, activities, food and music. For more information, click here.
 
Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody, Wyo.
Heart Mountain Internment Camp Story
Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
A free talk by Bob Richard of the Center of the West
For more information, click here.
 
Meeteetse Museums, Meeteetse, Wyo.
Ranches of Meeteetse by Dr. Amy McKinney, Associate Professor of History at Northwest College, Powell, Wyo.
Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, 1:00 p.m.
Part of the Museums series, “Perspectives of the Past,” Dr. McKinney’s presentation will focus on historic ranching in Meeteetse. For more information, click here.
 
Fremont County Museums
Riverton Museum, Riverton, Wyo.
How Geography Impacted Native Alaskan Tribes
Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Hank Overturf will discuss how the different geography and regions of Alaska impacted various native tribes, their art and culture. Free admission. Contact the Riverton Museum at 307-856-2665 for details, or click here.
 
South Pass City Historic Site
Trek with Ranger Angelina
Sept. 10, 2022
Check here for information soon to be available.
 
Carissa Mine tours through Labor Day, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 2:00 p.m.
Tours include a walk through the historic structures, live demonstration of milling equipment and a great story of life in a gold town. Take the tour to see and learn about one of the best preserved historic mining operations in the world. For more information, click here.
 
Museum of the Mountain Man, Pinedale, Wyo.
Sommers Homestead Open House
Sunday, Sept. 4, 2022, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
For information about the Sommers Homestead Living History Museum, click here.
 
Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum, Jackson, Wyo.
Take a historic downtown Jackson walking tour any Wednesday, Thursday or Friday in September 2022 starting at 10:30 a.m. For more information, click here.
 
Special exhibit: William Henry Jackson, Pioneer Photographer, on view through March 2023 in our Community Co-op Corner.
 
The exhibit “Wyoming Women” from the University of Wyoming’s American Heritage Center highlights 30 framed historical photos of Wyoming women in leadership roles in the outdoors and their communities.
 
For other information on these two exhibits, click here. Then scroll down.
 
National Historic Trails Interpretive Center, Casper, Wyo.
Independence Rock
A BLM interpreter will be present at Independence Rock Mondays and Fridays through October 14, 2022, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For more information, click here.
 
Trail Trek
Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022
 
For additional information on the above events, call 307-265-8030.
 
Washakie Museum and Cultural Center, Worland, Wyo.
Ranchers, Assassins, and the Cavalry: Tour the Sites of the Johnson County War
Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Join us for a fun excursion to Buffalo, Wyo. and the TA Ranch where we will visit the site where the “regulators” hired by the Wyoming Stock Growers Association during the Johnson County War were besieged. Pre-registration required. For more information, click here.
 
Hoofprints of the Past Museum, Kaycee, Wyo.
Bozeman Trail Tour
Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, 9:00 a.m.
Learn about English cattleman Moreton Frewen, who in 1878 named the area on Powder River where he located his 76 Ranch headquarters “Susssex” in memory of his home county in England. But long before that, early explorers in the area, travelers, trappers, the U.S. military and even missionaries played their part in Western expansion. To find out more about the tour or to register, contact the museum at 307-738-2381 or click here.
 
National Museum of Military Vehicles, Dubois, Wyo.
For the current tour schedule, click here.
 
Wyoming Archaeology Fair: Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site, Laramie, Wyo.
Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The Wyoming Archaeology Fair showcases Wyoming's rich cultural heritage from prehistory to the present day, providing unique, fun hands-on learning experiences for all ages: flint knapping, atlatl throwing, pottery making, hide painting, soapstone carving and more. Free. For more information, click here.
 
Museum at the Bighorns, Sheridan, Wyo.
Living History Cemetery Tour: Notable Names in Sheridan County
Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, 7:30 p.m.
Limited to 30 people; tickets must be purchased in advance. To get your ticket, and for more information, click here.
 
Buy a raffle ticket for Sam Iddings' painting, "Cottonwood Shade," through the end of September at the museum. For more information call the museum at 307-675-1150.
 
Wyoming Veterans Memorial Museum, Casper, Wyo.
Dr. Mark Johnson explores the history of the First Wyoming Volunteer Infantry Battalion in the Spanish-American and Philippine-American Wars.
Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
For more information, call 307-472-1857 or click here.
 
Natrona County Historical Society
Meeting, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, 6:30 p.m., Crawford Room, Natrona County Library, Casper, Wyo.
For more information, contact Becky Steensland bsteen@bresnan.net
 
Wyoming State Archives
Chinese Communities in Wyoming, 1869-1937
Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
Beginning in 1869, the first Chinese community began to emerge in Evanston, Wyo. Shortly thereafter, Almy, then Rock Springs, witnessed the emergence of Chinatowns. Presented by Dr. Dudley Gardner, Professor Emeritus, Western Wyoming College.

For more information, call the Archives at 307-777-7826 or click here. To register for the virtual presentation, click here.