CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Sept. 14, 2026 – The Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources’ Monuments and Markers Advisory Committee will meet virtually on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

The virtual meeting details can be found below: 

Time zone: America/Denver

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/ena-nexm-voc

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 240-468-7195‬ PIN: ‪312 072 054‬#

More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/ena-nexm-voc?pin=2493398505437

This meeting will review ongoing projects, provide updates on new interpretive signage, discuss enhancements to the statewide database, explore new sign opportunities, and celebrate recent program successes.

Recent accomplishments include a new historical marker in Kaycee that commemorates the 1892 KC Ranch battle between Nathan D. Champion and Johnson County War invaders. Dedicated on July 11, 2026, the marker replaces an outdated panel and was funded through partnerships with the Hoofprints of the Past Museum, Wyoming 250 Commission, and Wyoming’s Monuments and Markers Program. 

The Monuments and Markers Program is a cooperative effort among the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources (SPCR), the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT), the Wyoming Office of Tourism (WOT), Wyoming Tribes, local governments, and private partners. The program installs new historical markers and maintains existing monuments, markers, and interpretive signage statewide.

Learn more about this program at wyoparks.wyo.gov.

Figure 1: Community members attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new 1892 KC Ranch Attack Monuments and Marker sign.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Sept. 14, 2026 – The Wyoming Arts Council is accepting applications for the 2027 Neltje Blanchan Memorial Writing Award Inspired by Nature and the Frank Nelson Doubleday Memorial Writing Award for Writing by a Woman. Each award provides a $1,000 prize to a Wyoming writer.

The Neltje Blanchan Memorial Writing Award recognizes outstanding poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or scripts informed by a relationship with the natural world. The Frank Nelson Doubleday Memorial Writing Award recognizes outstanding poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, or script by a woman writer.

Both awards are designed to bring attention to Wyoming writers who have not yet received wide recognition for their work and to support emerging writers at crucial times in their careers. Poets, fiction writers, essayists, and scriptwriters who have published no more than one book in each genre and who are not full-time students or faculty members are invited to apply.

Applications are due Nov. 9, 2026, and must include a manuscript and entry form. Submit applications online through Submittable at wyomingartscouncil.submittable.com/submit.

These awards are made possible through the generosity of Neltje.

Complete eligibility requirements, submission guidelines, and additional information are available through the online application.

For questions about application content or eligible projects, contact Kimberly Mittelstadt, creative arts specialist, at (307) 274-6673 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For more information about the Wyoming Arts Council, visit wyomingartscouncil.org.

Figure 1: Neltje Blanchan Doubleday, left, and Frank Nelson Doubleday are the namesakes of two annual writing awards administered by the Wyoming Arts Council. Established through the generosity of their granddaughter, Wyoming artist and arts advocate Neltje Doubleday Kings, the awards have supported emerging Wyoming writers since 1989.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Sept. 9, 2026 – The Wyoming Arts Council will host three virtual public focus groups as part of its ongoing strategic planning process. The focus groups will build on feedback from the Arts Council's recent public engagement survey and offer an opportunity to explore key themes, topics, and ideas in greater depth.

Each 90-minute focus group will be facilitated by Wyoming Arts Council staff and will focus on a specific area of the agency's work. The focus groups are open to the public, and participants are encouraged to attend the session most relevant to their interests or experience.

Individual Artist Support

Monday, Sept. 14, noon-1:30 p.m.

meet.google.com/dvy-gheo-fsv

Arts Education

Monday, Sept. 14, 4-5:30 p.m.

meet.google.com/zxj-kgom-ppr

Grants

Wednesday, Sept. 16, noon-1:30 p.m.

meet.google.com/tph-pqre-ono

Agendas and discussion questions are available in each focus group’s event listing on the Wyoming Arts Council website.

The Wyoming Arts Council receives approximately half of its annual funding through a Partnership Agreement with the National Endowment for the Arts, which requires the agency to maintain an up-to-date strategic plan. The Arts Council's current plan extends through 2027, and the planning process provides an opportunity to gather input from Wyoming's arts and culture community and evaluate how the Arts Council can best respond to the evolving needs of the state's creative sector.

The virtual focus groups are one part of a broader public engagement process. In addition to the public survey, Arts Council staff have been meeting with partner organizations and will host regional community meetings across the state to gather additional perspectives.

“We’re looking forward to these opportunities to listen to what inspires Wyoming’s arts community, what challenges it faces, and how the Arts Council might address those needs in the future,” said Rachel Clifton, executive director of the Wyoming Arts Council. “I encourage anyone who works directly in the arts or has an interest in one of these areas to join us and share their ideas and feedback.”

Feedback gathered throughout the process will help inform the Wyoming Arts Council's next strategic plan and guide the agency's priorities and work in the years ahead.

The mission of the Wyoming Arts Council is to provide leadership and invest resources to champion, sustain, and cultivate community through the arts.

For more information, contact the Wyoming Arts Council at (307) 777-7742.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Sept. 8, 2026 – As local outdoor recreation efforts gain momentum across the state, six of Wyoming’s 12 Outdoor Recreation Collaboratives will convene in September and October to advance local outdoor recreation priorities. Facilitated by the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation (WYOREC), these public meetings bring together local residents, business owners, nonprofit organizations, and elected officials to drive grassroots projects that strengthen 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 WYOREC Collaborative meetings are as follows:

The Teton County Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (TCORC), representing Teton County, WY, will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (MDT) at Jackson Parks and Recreation, located at 220 N. King St, Jackson, WY 83001. Join virtually through a video call: meet.google.com/ufd-texo-puy or dial in: ‪(US) +1 470-228-6193‬, PIN: ‪380 147 884‬#.

The High Plains Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (HPORC), representing Goshen, Niobrara, Laramie, and Platte Counties, will meet on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2026, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (MDT) at the Platte County Library, located at 904 9th St, Wheatland, WY 82201. Join virtually through a video call: meet.google.com/nrr-qboi-qjn or dial in: ‪(US) +1 605-937-6243,‬ PIN: ‪140 020 651#.

The Southeast Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (SWORC), representing Albany and Carbon Counties, will meet on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (MDT) at the Carbon County Higher Educator Center, located at 1650 Harshman St, Rawlins, WY 82301. Join virtually through a video call:meet.google.com/oxc-weva-nsg or dial in: ‪(US) +1 224-650-8627,‬ PIN: ‪637 230 684‬#.

The Sweetwater County Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (SCORC), representing Sweetwater County, will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (MDT) at the Rock Springs Library, located at 400 C St, Rock Springs, WY 82901. Join virtually through a video call: meet.google.com/voi-bouc-cru or dial in: ‪(US) +1 304-621-9591, PIN: ‪256 267 079‬#.

The Lincoln Uinta Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (LUORC), representing Lincoln and Uinta Counties, will meet on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (MDT) at the Uinta County Library, located at 701 Main St, Evanston, WY 82930. Join virtually through a video call: meet.google.com/xtf-suhg-adm or dial in: ‪(US) +1 321-586-0545, PIN: ‪707 241 981‬#.

The Mountain Man Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (MMORC), representing Sublette County, will meet on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (MDT) at the Sublette County Visitor Center, Big Piney, located at 101 Front St, Big Piney, WY 83113. Join virtually through a video call: meet.google.com/fqz-jzdt-kbq or dial in: ‪(US) +1 470-242-8779,‬ PIN: ‪337 612 100‬#.

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 wyooutdoorrecreation.wyo.gov. 

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

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Sept. 4, 2026 – Wyoming State Parks will honor first responders by offering free entrance to all Wyoming state parks, historic sites, and recreation areas on Patriot Day, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.

In recognition of their service, law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) will receive free entrance for the day. The free entrance does not apply to reservations, and all other applicable fees, including camping, electricity, and rentals, will still apply.

“First responders serve Wyoming communities through challenging and often stressful circumstances,” said Stephanie Dillmon, visitor services manager for Wyoming State Parks. “Patriot Day is an opportunity for us to recognize that service and invite them to enjoy Wyoming’s state parks and historic sites, whether that means spending time outdoors, connecting with family, or simply taking a break from the demands of the job.” 

The Patriot Day recognition is part of Wyoming State Parks’ broader Parks for Patriots initiative, which reflects an ongoing commitment to honoring military members, veterans, and first responders who serve and protect communities across the state through special opportunities year-round. 

Wyoming State Parks is part of the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources. To learn more, visit wyoparks.wyo.gov.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Sept. 1, 2026 – The Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources is joining the annual National Public Lands Day tradition and invites communities across Wyoming to celebrate, care for, and give back to public lands through volunteer opportunities throughout September. The month-long effort leads up to National Public Lands Day and Wyoming Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 26. 

Wyoming State Parks Volunteer Opportunities 

Wyoming State Parks and Historic Sites will host volunteer projects throughout September, including cleanup efforts, trail maintenance, invasive species removal, habitat improvements, and preservation projects. In recognition of National Public Lands Day, day-use and entrance fees will also be waived at all Wyoming state parks and historic sites on Sept. 26.

Volunteer opportunities include:

• Bear River State Park – Sept. 1–30, Noxious Weed Identification
• Boysen State Park – Sept. 26, Puncturevine Weed Pull
• Buffalo Bill State Park – Sept. 26, Tree Planting
• Curt Gowdy State Park – Sept. 26, Bird Box Cleaning and Winterization
• Edness K.Wilkins State Park – Sept. 26, Russian Olive Removal
• Fort Bridger State Historic Site – Sept. 26, Historic Building Whitewash
• Hawk Springs State Recreation Area – Sept. 26, Beach & Campground Cleanup
• Hot Springs State Park – Sept. 26, Trash Cleanup
• Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site – Sept. 26, Trash Cleanup
• Seminoe State Park – Sept. 26, Trash Cleanup
• Sinks Canyon State Park – Sept. 26, Trail Maintenance & Weed Pull
• Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site – Sept. 26, Sunflower Garden Winterization & More

Outdoor Recreation Collaborative Volunteer Opportunities 

Across Wyoming, community-led Outdoor Recreation Collaboratives, facilitated by the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation, are also bringing together volunteers, local organizations, and land managers to support stewardship projects on public lands. Projects range from trail construction and maintenance to fence repair, habitat restoration, and cleanup efforts.

Collaborative-supported opportunities include:

• Bighorn Basin Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (BBORC) | Lovell – Sept. 19, Rainbow Canyon Trail Build
• Bighorn Basin Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (BBORC) | Ten Sleep - Sept. 12, Salt Lick Trailhead Volunteer Project
• Cloud Peak Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (CPORC) | Sheridan – Sept. 26, Black Mountain Nordic Trail Work Day (Registration Required)
• High Plains Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (HPORC) | Esterbrook – Sept. 26, Esterbrook Campground Cleanup
• Lincoln Uinta Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (LUORC) | Mountain View – Sept. 26, Leavitt Creek Beaver Dam Restoration
• Mountain Man Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (MMORC) | Pinedale – Sept. 26, NPLD Celebration (Registration Required)
• Park County Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (PCORC) | Cody – Sept. 26, Absaroka Fence Initiative (Registration Required)
• Southeast Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (SWORC) | Laramie – Sept. 26, Roger Canyon Trash Cleanup (Registration Required)
• Southeast Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (SWORC) | Laramie – Sept. 26, Upper UW Trail Maintenance (Registration Required)
• Sweetwater County Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (SCORC) | Rock Springs – Sept. 12, Tri-State Marker Fence Repair and Trash Cleanup
• Wind River Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (WRORC) | Atlantic City – Sept. 26, Strawberry Meadow Zeedyk Build Day (RSVP Encouraged)
• Teton County Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (TCORC) | Jackson - Sept. 26, Salt River Cleanup 

Established in 1994 and held annually on the fourth Saturday in September, National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is a nationwide initiative led by the National Environmental Education Foundation. Each year, volunteers across the country come together to care for public lands, improve recreation areas, and celebrate the places that connect communities to the outdoors. NPLD is also a fee-free day at participating federally managed public lands.

Event details, including volunteer times, meeting locations, and project information, are available on the social media accounts of participating Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, and Outdoor Recreation Collaboratives. Additional information can also be found on the NPLD map provided by the National Environment Education Foundation.

Wyoming State Parks and the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation are both part of the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources (SPCR), which provides recreational, cultural, and educational opportunities and experiences across the state. Learn more about SPCR at wyospcr.wyo.gov.

Figure 1: Russian olive removal at Edness K. Wilkins State Park during 2025 National Public Lands Day. Figure 2: Campground cleanup at Keyhole State Park during 2025 National Public Lands Day.

Contact: 

Jamie Hansen, Outreach Coordinator, Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation

(307) 460-8794 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

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.