CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Aug. 28, 2026 – The Wyoming State Archives is proud to announce the next installment of its monthly Speaker Series, featuring noted historian Dan Lyon. On Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at 7:00 p.m., Lyon will present Boyd Briggs: Wyoming's First Military Aviator.

Lyon will offer an in-depth look at the life and legacy of Captain Boyd Briggs, Wyoming's first military aviator and a forgotten pioneer appointed by Governor John B. Kendrick in 1916. Briggs served in the aviation corps during the Mexican Expedition and later commanded an aero squadron in France during World War I, where his unit helped define the future of aerial combat and establish America's aerial legacy. The presentation will include original training footage.

Dan Lyon is a Wyoming National Guard veteran and researcher of forgotten Wyoming history. His passion for the state's military heritage deepened during his time working at the museum at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, where the institution earned two consecutive Air Force Space Command Museum of the Year awards. An accomplished writer, Lyon is the author of Wyoming Girl Guards: The Forgotten Women's Militia, published by History Press.

The event is free and open to the public, with participation available both in person and online, and a live Q&A session following the presentation. It will be held Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the Wyoming State Museum Classroom, 2301 Central Avenue, Cheyenne. Virtual attendance requires registration at eventbrite.com/o/wyoming-state-archives-49902991693.

The Wyoming State Archives Speaker Series takes place on the second Thursday of each month, highlighting the state's diverse history. The Archives collects and preserves public and non-government records that document the activities of Wyoming's government and the rich heritage of its people. The Archives is fully accessible in accordance with ADA guidelines. For more information or to request special assistance, please contact Sara Davis, Wyoming State Archivist.

LARAMIE, Wyo. – Aug. 27, 2026 – On Aug. 4, 2026, an archaeological site in northwestern Wyoming was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The site, known as the Goff Creek site, is on U.S. Forest Service lands in the Shoshone National Forest. 

The archaeological site is a multicomponent precontact site, meaning the location was occupied during multiple time periods before the first Europeans reached Wyoming. The site was occupied approximately from 9,300 years before present until approximately 300 years before present. The site was first formally documented in 1976 and was reinvestigated in the late 1980s and mid-1990s, during which time archaeological excavations were conducted. 

The site is significant enough to be listed on the National Register at the statewide level because it has helped archaeologists understand large regional patterns, such as the chronology of diagnostic projectile points (arrowheads or spear points) in Wyoming. Goff Creek has one of the largest precontact artifact assemblages in the entire Rocky Mountain region. Excavated portions of the site have yielded large and diverse assemblages of artifacts that have helped answer archaeological questions about precontact subsistence practices and site function. Thousands of chipped stone artifacts, including chips, projectile points, scrapers, and other stone tools, as well as thousands of faunal remains, mostly from bighorn sheep, at the site.  

The National Register listing was prepared by University of Wyoming anthropology graduate student Casey Black as part of the State Historic Preservation Office’s (SHPO) student internship program. Since the internship program began in 2010, 22 archaeological sites or districts have been listed on the National Register through the program. The program teaches students how to prepare documentation for listing archaeological sites on the National Register, helps increase the number of archaeological properties listed in Wyoming, and provides students with practical research experience. 

For more information about the Goff Creek site, contact Gwendolyn Kristy, chief of planning & historic contexts for the Wyoming SHPO. You can also learn more about the National Register of Historic Places at wyoshpo.wyo.gov.

Figure 1: Overview of one of the excavation blocks in 1996 at the Goff Creek Site, courtesy of the Office of the Wyoming State Archaeologist. Figure 2: Photographs of bone tools recovered from the Site, courtesy of the Office of the Wyoming State Archaeologist. 

Contact: 

Gwendolyn Kristy, Chief, Planning & Historic Contexts

Wyoming Historic Preservation Office

(307) 399-5366; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 

**Correction: Meeting Date and Time**

Please note that the meeting date and time have been updated to Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, from 9 a.m. to noon. 

Contact: 

Renée Bovée, Program Coordinator

Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund

(307) 777-6312 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Aug. 26, 2026 – The Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund (WCTF) board will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, from 9 a.m. to noon via Google Meet. 

The agenda will focus on a review of potential expansions and revisions to investment strategies and granting programs.  An executive session may be held if necessary.

To participate via Google Meet: 

Meeting ID:

meet.google.com/ucj-noyq-enf

or via Phone:

(‪US‬)‪+1 478-419-0170‬

PIN: ‪667 441 701#‬

The Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund board meetings are open to the public. The board meeting agenda is available on the WCTF website, wyoculturaltrust.com. Please feel free to contact the WCTF Program Coordinator, Renée Bovée, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (307) 777-6312 with any questions.

SINCLAIR, Wyo. — Aug. 25, 2026 — Wyoming State Parks is advising visitors to Seminoe State Park to plan for intermittent water system interruptions through the remainder of the camping season as upgrades to the park’s water system are completed.

Campers are encouraged to arrive with their RV or camper water tanks filled, as water availability within the park will be limited at times during construction.

The park’s dump station will remain open; however, construction activity may occasionally affect access or timing of use. Visitors are encouraged to plan accordingly and allow for potential delays.

Wyoming State Parks appreciates visitors’ patience and understanding as these improvements are completed.

For more information and park updates, visit wyoparks.wyo.gov/seminoe or follow Seminoe State Park on Facebook.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Aug. 24, 2026 – Wyoming State Parks and the Wyoming Arts Council invite the public to attend the final Artist in Residence programs of the 2026 season, taking place throughout September at Wyoming State Parks.

As part of Wyoming’s commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary, the 2026 Artist in Residence Program expanded to include 19 artists at nine state parks. Throughout the summer, artists representing visual art, music, dance, performance art, and creative writing have engaged visitors, developed original works inspired by place, and explored Wyoming’s history, culture, and future through creative expression.

September features six residencies across four Wyoming state parks, highlighting performance art, visual art, and creative writing while offering visitors multiple opportunities to engage directly with artists and their creative process. 

Each residency includes three days of creative work and visitor engagement, culminating in a public program on Saturday. Public programs may include readings, demonstrations, workshops, performances, discussions, or presentations that provide visitors an opportunity to connect directly with artists and their work.

September residencies include:

• Sept. 2–5 – Keyhole State Park: Oakley Boycott (Lander, performance art)

          Public Program: 

          - Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

          - Friday, Sept. 4, 2026  9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

          - Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., artist talk back 5 - 6 p.m.

          Location: Tatanka Campground Shelter

• Sept. 2–5 – Sinks Canyon State Park: Tara Pappas (Laramie, visual art)

          Public Program: Saturday, Sept. 5 at 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
          Location: Visitor Center

• Sept. 9–12 – Hot Springs State Park: Sidney Woods (Afton, creative writing)

          Public Program: Saturday, Sept. 12 at 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
          Location: Lower Terrace Shelter

• Sept. 16–19 – Sinks Canyon State Park: Natalie Callum (Lander, creative writing)

          Public Program: Saturday, Sept. 19 at 3 -4:30 p.m. 
          Location: Sawmill Campground

• Sept. 16–19 – Edness K. Wilkins State Park: Donna Buckley (Casper, visual art)

          Public Program: Saturday, Sept. 5 at 10 - 11 a.m.
          Location: Mountain View Shelter

• Sept. 23–26 – Keyhole State Park: Maddison Hodson (Cody, creative writing)

          Public Program: Saturday, Sept. 26 at 11 a.m.
          Location: Tatanka Campground Shelter

The Artist in Residence Program provides artists with an opportunity to create work inspired by Wyoming’s landscapes, history, and communities while offering visitors new ways to experience state parks and historic sites. Artists participating in the 2026 program were asked to reflect on Wyoming’s official Semiquincentennial themes of honoring the past, examining the present, and imagining the future.

Visitors are encouraged to attend the free public programs and to interact with artists throughout their residencies. Additional event details, including program locations and times, will be shared by individual parks and historic sites through their social media channels.

The Wyoming Artist in Residence Program is a partnership between Wyoming State Parks and the Wyoming Arts Council. Both are programs within the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, which provides recreational, cultural, and educational opportunities and experiences to improve communities and enrich lives.

For more information about the Artist in Residence Program, visit the Wyoming Arts Council at wyomingartscouncil.org.

Learn more about Wyoming State Parks at wyoparks.wyo.gov or follow @WyomingStateParks on Facebook for updates on upcoming events and programs statewide.

Contacts: 

Rachel Clifton, Executive Director

Wyoming Arts Council

(307) 256-0500 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Christina Bird, District Manager

Wyoming State Parks

(307) 631-1110 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CASPER, Wyo. – Aug. 24, 2026 – The biennial Preserve Wyoming Conference returns to Casper Sept. 17–19, marking the first time in 15 years the statewide historic preservation conference has been held in the city. The three-day conference will bring together preservation professionals, community leaders, and advocates to learn, network, and celebrate historic preservation across Wyoming. New this year, the conference will also feature industry professionals and vendors.

Held every two years in communities across the state, the Preserve Wyoming Conference provides an opportunity to share resources, ideas, and practical strategies to preserve Wyoming’s historic places and strengthen the communities connected to them.

The Preserve Wyoming Conference is taking place in Casper from Sept. 17-19 at the Best Western Downtown Casper, 123 W. E Street. The conference is hosted by the Alliance for Historic Wyoming, the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office, and the Casper Historic Preservation Commission. 

Schedule:

Thursday, Sept. 17: Check-in begins at 3 p.m., followed by the Awards Banquet from 5:30–8 p.m. The banquet will be hosted by former Wyoming Gov. Mike Sullivan. 

Friday, Sept. 18: Four speaker sessions will be held between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., with lunch from noon–1 p.m. Sessions include: 

• 9:00-10:15 a.m. - Pathways to Preservation: Turning Historic Buildings into Funded Projects with Christina Hiegel, PE, National Development Services Manager, Ayres Associates
• 10:30-11:45 a.m. - Preserve to Prosper: Connecting Historic Preservation and Outdoor Recreation in Wyoming with Cheyenne Sterck, Executive Director of the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Business Alliance
• 1:45-3:00 p.m. - A Pathway to Preservation: The Laramie West Side Historic District with Megan McDonald, Architectural Historian, Post Oak Preservation Solutions
• 3:15-4:30 p.m. - The Old Yellowstone District: 15 years Later with Liz Becher, Community Development Director, City of Casper
• At 5:30 p.m., the Casper Historic Preservation Commission will lead a walking tour of the Casper Downtown Historic District. 

Saturday, Sept. 19: Sessions begin at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday and include an “Ask the Experts” roundtable featuring representatives from the Alliance for Historic Wyoming, the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund, the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office, Post Oak Preservation Solutions, and Iron Spur Architecture and Design. 

The Keynote lunch begins at noon and features Rep. Trey Sherwood. Her presentation, Pathways to Preservation, will reflect on how Wyoming communities can tell their stories and create a path forward for preservation, from grassroots community building to legislative policy. 

Those interested in attending the Preserve Wyoming Conference should contact Katie Leeper at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Aug. 31 for registration information. 

THERMOPOLIS, Wyo. — Aug. 21, 2026 — Wyoming State Parks is announcing upcoming improvements to the outdoor soaking pool at the State Bath House in Hot Springs State Park. The outdoor soaking pool will temporarily close beginning Aug. 24 for approximately one month while several accessibility and safety improvements are completed.

The project will include installation of a new ADA-compliant pool lift chair, concrete improvements, and new handrails designed to meet current safety standards. Crews will also install a new sidewalk heating system to help reduce snow and ice accumulation around the pool area, providing a safer and more comfortable experience for visitors during the winter months.

“These improvements are an important investment in the State Bath House and the experience we provide our visitors,” said Christopher Delay, superintendent of Hot Springs State Park. “We appreciate everyone’s patience during the temporary closure and look forward to reopening the outdoor pool with improvements that will enhance safety and accessibility.”

The indoor soaking pool will remain open throughout construction during regular State Bath House hours: Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 7 p.m.

The State Bath House is a free public facility. Visitors can also continue to enjoy Hot Springs State Park’s other amenities, including more than six miles of trails, scenic picnic areas, and the park’s central bison herd.

Construction is expected to take approximately one month. Visitors are encouraged to check for updates before their visit.

For more information on available amenities and ongoing construction updates at Hot Springs State Park, please visit our official website at wyoparks.wyo.gov/hotsprings or follow us on Facebook at @hotspringsstatepark.  

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Aug. 20, 2026 – The Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation facilitates 12 Outdoor Recreation Collaboratives throughout the state. These Collaboratives bring together local community members, recreation stakeholders, businesses, conservation groups, federal and state agencies, and elected officials to identify and prioritize grassroots opportunities to grow and enhance outdoor recreation in Wyoming.

Members of the public are welcome to attend this round of meetings in person or virtually via Google Meet. Near the end of each meeting, a designated time will be allocated for public comments. 

Dates, times, and call-in information for upcoming Collaborative meetings are as follows:

The Bighorn Basin Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (BBORC), representing Big Horn, Hot Springs, and Washakie Counties, will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 1, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (MDT) at the Ten Sleep Public Library, located at 200 Fir St, Ten Sleep, WY 82442. Join virtually through a video call: meet.google.com/dbj-robi-bzh or dial in: ‪(US) +1 786-671-5474‬, PIN: ‪726 583 116‬#.

The Cloud Peak Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (CPORC), representing Johnson and Sheridan Counties, will meet on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (MDT) at the Johnson County Library, located at 171 N Adams Ave, Buffalo, WY 82834. Join virtually through a video call: meet.google.com/tdq-gcvk-zdn or dial in: ‪(US) +1 317-961-0767,‬ PIN: ‪570 046 874#.

The Northeast Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (NEWORC), representing Campbell, Crook, and Weston Counties, will meet on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (MDT) at the Weston County Library, located at 23 W Main St, Newcastle, WY 82701. Join virtually through a video call: meet.google.com/xqg-gjdr-wpf or dial in: ‪(US) +1 541-647-1789,‬ PIN: ‪447 662 565‬#.

The Natrona Converse Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (NCORC), representing Natrona and Converse Counties, will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (MDT) at the Platte River Trails Pumphouse, located at 1775 W 1st St West Entrance, Casper, WY 82604. Join virtually through a video call: meet.google.com/hnj-kptw-fxv or dial in: ‪(US) +1 402-645-1227‬, PIN: ‪210 040 044‬#.

The Park County Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (PCORC), representing Park County, will meet on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (MDT) at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department - Cody Regional Office, located at 2 Tilden Trl, Cody, WY 82414. Join virtually through a video call: meet.google.com/xup-nxrc-utw or dial in: ‪(US) +1 857-496-5077,‬ PIN: ‪951 712 356‬#.

The Wind River Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (WRORC) representing Fremont County, will meet on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (MDT) at the Riverton City Hall, Council Chambers, located at 816 N Federal Blvd, Riverton, WY 82501. Join virtually through a video call: meet.google.com/rap-vwhf-rru or dial in: ‪(US) +1 978-309-9903,‬ PIN: ‪134 580 377‬#.

The Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation champions responsible outdoor recreation to improve communities and diversify Wyoming’s economy.

Learn more about the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation’s Outdoor Recreation Collaboratives by visiting wyorec.com.

To stay informed about the latest developments and ongoing work of these Collaboratives, subscribe to the monthly newsletter, The Collaborative Connection.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Aug. 19, 2026 – Wyoming State Parks is announcing an agreement with Big Springs Spa, Inc., current operator of the Hot Springs Hotel, formerly the Days Inn Hotel, in Thermopolis, Wyoming. Under the agreement, the State will pay Big Springs Spa, Inc. $1,175,921.05 for the appraised value of its capital investment and ongoing business interest in the hotel. 

The agreement follows an appraisal process conducted pursuant to Section 335 of Enrolled Act 27 of the Sixty-Eighth Wyoming Legislature, also known as the 2027 Budget Bill. 

Section 335 required Wyoming State Parks to conduct an appraisal of the capital investment and ongoing business value of an existing concessionaire that was not selected for a subsequent long-term contract. The Legislature authorized up to $3 million in previously appropriated funds for reimbursement based on the appraised value, subject to review and written approval by the Wyoming Attorney General. 

“This agreement, along with the recent agreement with the Star Plunge, will allow us to focus on the future of the hotel and water park concessions at Hot Springs State Park,” said Nick Neylon, deputy director of the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources. “We look forward to moving ahead with improvements that will provide a safe, welcoming, and high-quality experience for Wyoming residents and visitors.” 

For more information about Wyoming State Parks, please visit WyoParks.Wyo.Gov.