Join the Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming State Trails Program and Wind River Outdoor Recreation Collaborative for National Public Lands Day

In celebration of 30 years of National Public Lands Day, the Wind River Outdoor Recreation Collaborative is hosting a cleanup of public lands on September 30th in the Government Draw recreation area east of Lander. This workday is in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management’s Lander Field Office, Tread Lightly!, Wyoming Outdoor Recreation and the Wyoming Trails Program. 

Wind River Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (WRORC) is a grassroots initiative that brings together local community members, stakeholders, federal and state agencies, and other non-governmental organizations to support sustainable outdoor recreation growth and enhancements in Fremont County.

The cleanup is part of the WRORC’s initiative to improve and bring awareness to the Government Draw recreation area which is enjoyed by many Fremont County residents looking for close-to-home recreation on public lands. 

“Misuse of public land is what causes it to be taken away. If we want it to continue to remain open for all types of recreation, we need to take care of it. Please come join us in cleaning up this very popular public recreation area,” states Forrest Kamminga, Manager of the Wyoming State Trails Program. 

Past volunteer cleanup efforts in Government Draw have removed cartridges, targets, household waste and appliances. While annual cleanups have resulted in less trash and public feedback is increasingly positive, litter and illegal dumping continue to impact the area. 

Volunteers are welcome to join the cleanup initiative at any time between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. To reach the cleanup site, turn east from Lyons Valley Road onto Coal Mine Road, cross the Little Popo Agie River and continue on Coal Mine Road to the staging area adjacent to the cattle guard. 

Volunteers should be dressed appropriately for outdoor work and are encouraged to bring work gloves and water. Lunch will be provided to volunteers who RSVP by Wednesday, September 27th.  

For more information about the cleanup and to RSVP, please visit bit.ly/NPLD2023GovDraw.

In celebration of Wyoming’s rich cultural heritage, Governor Mark Gordon will proclaim September as Wyoming Archaeology Awareness Month (WAAM) on September 19.

Throughout the month of September, there will be events, activities, and lectures highlighting Wyoming’s history. To find an event near you, check out the WAAM 2023 Events Calendar.

The largest event, the Wyoming Archaeology Fair, has become a beloved annual celebration and will be held Saturday, September 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site in Laramie. 

The fair will showcase Wyoming’s cultural traditions including Indigenous lifeways and historic activities, and provides a unique, hands-on learning experience for all ages. The event is free and open to the public. We are also delighted to announce the return of the Wind River Dancers, who will demonstrate a variety of Indigenous dance styles. The Wind River Dancers will perform at 1 pm

Attendees are invited to try their hand at flint knapping, atlatl throwing, and pottery making, as well as hide painting, cordage making, yucca leaf processing and more.  Additionally, attendees will have an opportunity to meet local archaeologists, ask questions, and find answers. New this year, the Office of the Wyoming State Archaeologist welcomes you to bring items from your collections to learn how an expert examines and identifies artifacts. We hope to see you there!

The centerpiece of WAAM is an annually produced, award-winning poster. This year’s poster, “Archived in Aspen,” highlights historic arborglyphs, which are drawings and messages carved into trees that are scattered throughout Wyoming’s bountiful forests. These striking cultural features were created by generations of sheepherders who spent their summers in the mountains, watching after their flock, helping to grow the sheep industry. While many folks may know of the Basque sheepherding tradition in the West, the arborglyphs of the Sierra Madre Range in the Medicine Bow National Forest were predominantly the product of Hispanic Americans from northern New Mexico. This poster celebrates an archaeological feature that many Wyoming residents have likely seen while in the forest, and provides information on the perhaps less well-known cultural tradition and history of the people behind the images.

The poster is available free of charge, and may be picked up at the State Historic Preservation Office, Barrett Building, 2301 Central Avenue in Cheyenne, or in Laramie in the Anthropology Building located at 12th and Lewis, Room 312. If you wish to have a poster mailed to you, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for details.

Celebrate 30 Years of National Public Lands Day with Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, Trails and Outdoor Recreation

Join us in celebration of the nation's largest single-day volunteer event for public lands this September! Help restore, improve, and enjoy Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites and Trails across the state by attending an upcoming National Public Lands Day event in your area.

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.  This annual celebration brings out hundreds of thousands of volunteers to help restore and improve public lands around the country. NPLD is also a “Fee-Free Day”—one of only five days a year when entrance fees are waived at national parks and other public lands.

This year, NPLD is celebrating 30 Years of Care and Community. In the past decade alone, over 1 million volunteers have donated almost 5 million hours of their time for public lands, worth an estimated $133 million. These efforts are crucial to preserving our natural resources for future generations to enjoy.

“Not only does National Public Lands Day give us the opportunity to give back and to take care of the public spaces we enjoy recreating on throughout the year, but it also gives us the chance to connect with our communities and to create kinship amongst those volunteering,” states Laurel Stephens, Outreach Coordinator for Wyoming’s Office of Outdoor Recreation.

In honor of this annual celebration, day use and entrance fees will be waived at all Wyoming State Parks and Historic Sites on September 23rd.

This year, ten Wyoming State Parks and Historic Sites will also host National Public Lands Day events from trail improvement projects, nature walks, park clean-ups and more. Event details for participating sites are as follows:

• Bear River State Park - Sept. 23rd 10 a.m.-1 p.m. River Trail Clean-up & Improvement Project, meet at Rendezvous Group Area. Volunteers will meet at 10:00AM and trek to the west side of the river trail system to remove slash piles as well as reset small culverts near the trail system. Friends of Bear River State Park will provide a light lunch and beverages. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gloves and dress accordingly. For more information, please contact 307-789-6547.
• Boysen State Park - Sept. 1st-30th Month-long Park Clean-up & Virtual Stewardship Challenge. Pick up litter anywhere in the park and take a photo of you in action. Tag Boysen State Park on Facebook or comment your photo on Boysen’s NPLD Facebook posts and be entered to win a special prize. For more information, please contact 307-876-2796.
• Buffalo Bill State Park - Sept. 23rd 8 a.m. Park Clean-up, meet at Park Office. Help pick up litter and debris in the park's no fee areas. Maps & supplies will be provided. For more information, please contact 307-587-9227.
• Curt Gowdy State Park - Sept. 23rd 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Pollinator Garden Clean-up, meet at Visitor Center. Volunteers will meet at the Visitor Center and help pull weeds from in and around the garden, making it cleaner and helping to prevent invasive species from taking over. Time permitting, the group will take a brief hike around Kate's Trail to discuss conservation and ecology at the park. For more information, please contact 307-359-4014.
• Edness K. Wilkins State Park - Sept. 23rd 10 a.m. -11:30 a.m. Park Clean-up & Nature Walk, meet at Centennial Group Shelter. Start the day with a hike around Centennial discovering the plants and animals that make it their home. Afterwards, help clean-up brush to create a healthy habitat and ensure visitors can continue to enjoy the area. For more information, please contact 307-577-5150.
• Glendo State Park - Sept. 23rd 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Metal Detector Competition to Clean-up Sandy Beach, meet at Sandy Beach Day Use Area. Participants will be given two hours to use their metal detectors to comb the beach and collect any item that the detector picks up. At the end of the two hours, the participant who collects the most items (by weight) will win a prize. This event is sponsored by Modern Metal Detectors based out of Casper, WY. For more information, please contact 307-735-4433.
• Keyhole State Park - Sept. 23rd 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Park Clean-up, meet at Cliffs Shelter in Coulter Bay. Team up with Keyhole State Park staff and camp hosts in picking up litter and cleaning out fire pits in the campgrounds and along the cliffs. For more information, please contact 307-756-3596.
• Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site - Sept. 23rd 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Pollinator Garden Clean-up, meet at the Red Barn. Volunteers and park staff will head to the new Pollinator Garden to pull weeds and clean-up the area for visitors to enjoy. The Friends of Medicine Lodge will provide beverages and snacks. Volunteers are encouraged to bring gloves. For more information, please contact 307-469-2234.
• Sinks Canyon State Park - Sept. 30th 9 a.m. Park Improvement Projects, meet at Visitor Center. Volunteers will join staff for a morning of park improvement projects such as pruning, trail maintenance, campsite maintenance and more. Projects will vary in required skill and knowledge; volunteers will be assigned tasks based on interest and ability. Sinks Canyon State Park will also host a weekend long campout with Women Who Hike; pre-registration is required and space is limited. For more information and registration, please contact 307-677-2461 or register at wyoparks.info/NPLDWWH.
• Wyoming Territorial Prison - Sept. 23rd 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Interpretive Program Projects, meet at University of Wyoming’s Union Ballroom. In partnership with the University of Wyoming, help build and decorate items for Wyoming State Park’s Laramie District’s interpretive programming such as bird boxes, bat houses, and bee bungalows! For more information, please contact 307-745-6161 and register at bit.ly/NPLD23. 

Participants are encouraged to “know before you go” and to prepare for weather conditions.  Supplies will be provided at most locations; however, participants are also encouraged to bring their own gloves where applicable in addition water and snacks. 

Learn more about each National Public Lands Day event by finding individual parks and sites on Facebook; additional details will be posted in the coming weeks.

The newest exhibit at the Wyoming State Museum, “Down the Barrel of History: Legendary Guns from Wyoming’s Past,” is now open!

"Down the Barrel of History" showcases Wyoming stories and histories told through twenty-seven guns from the Museum’s collections. This exhibit was co-curated by volunteer Evan Green with the Museum staff.

Starting in 2018, Evan began working with the Museum’s firearm collection, cataloging, researching, and creating Firearms Friday videos for the Museum’s YouTube channel. All of his hard work and dedication have resulted in this exhibit.

Some guns on display have an exciting history on their own, like the Colt Single Action Army that was on outlaw Al Smith during the “Hole-in-the-wall Fight.” While others are from moments in Wyoming’s history, like the three guns used on the Cheyenne-Deadwood stage route.

Whether you enjoy the stories or the historic guns themselves, this exhibit has something for everyone!

Come by the Wyoming State Museum during our regular hours from Monday - Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is always free.

Wyoming State Archives and Laramie County Public Library Host Sam Mihara

Join the Wyoming State Archives (WSA) and the Laramie County Public Library for a special night with Sam Mihara as he talks about his experiences at Heart Mountain internment camp during World War II.

This event is sponsored in part by Wyoming Humanities. Mihara’s talk will be held on Friday, September 15, at 7 p.m. in the Wyoming State Capitol Auditorium located at 200 W 24th St, in Cheyenne. We also welcome virtual participants. To obtain a link to the online event, register through the WSA Eventbrite page, https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/wyoming-state-archives-speaker-series-834529.

When Sam Mihara was nine years old, World War II broke out resulting in the United States government using armed military guards to force over 125,000 people of Japanese descent to live in one of the 75 internment camps located in the United States.

Mihara will share his story of his family’s journey from San Francisco to Heart Mountain, Wyoming and life thereafter as chronicled in his book, Memories of Heart Mountain. Mihara will have copies of the book available for sale at the event.

Sam Mihara and his family returned to San Francisco after the war ended. He attended Lick Wilmerding High School, and University of California, Berkeley for his undergraduate degree and UCLA for his graduate degree, earning engineering degrees at both. This led to a career as a rocket scientist and employment with Boeing Company, where he served as an executive on space programs. Following retirement, Mihara became a national speaker on the topic of mass injustice in the U.S. and helped in the education and preservation of the Heart Mountain Historic Landmark. He is a board member of the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation and of the Japanese American Citizens League, SELANOCO Chapter. He has received many awards for his educational talks including Paul Gagnon Prize as the history educator of the year and the Japanese American Citizens League’s prestigious honor, The Biennium Award for Education.

The State Archives is hosting a variety of events in honor of American Archives Month, Family History Month, and Electronic Records Day in October.

On Thursday, October 12, at 7 pm, historian Rick Ewig will moderate a panel discussion titled, “Tom Horn: 120 Years Later,” to be held at the Laramie County Public Library in Cheyenne. 

Published authors and panelists D. Claudia Thompson, Larry Ball, and John Davis will talk about Horn’s life, legacy, and relevance today as a hired gunman, Pinkerton agent, soldier, scout, interpreter, and cowboy during the late 19th to early 20th centuries.

Also, in October, Governor Dave Freudenthal will discuss his book, “Wyoming: The Paradox of Plenty, The Allure and Risk of a Mineral Economy,” at 7 p.m. in the Wyoming State Capitol Auditorium on the 30th.

To view upcoming events, check out the Wyoming State Archives events calendar at https://wyoarchives.wyo.gov/index.php/about-archives/events. Recordings of most WSA events are available on their YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@wyomingstatearchives3567/videos.

The WSA collects, manages, and preserves Wyoming state public records that have long-term administrative, legal, and historical value. These records document the history of our state and the activities of Wyoming Government offices. The Archives also collects non-government records that contribute to the understanding of the state’s history.

Wyoming State Archives Hosts Special Speaker Events in September and October

In honor of American Archives Month, Family History Month, and Electronic Records Day (10-10), the Wyoming State Archives is hosting a series of free virtual lunch-time talks and special evening speaker events throughout October.

Check out the Wyoming State Archives events calendar for more information at https://wyoarchives.wyo.gov/index.php/about-archives/events. You may also email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information. All events are free and open to the public.

To kick off the special evening events, Sam Mihara will present “Memories of Heart Mountain,” on Friday, September 15 at 7 p.m. in the Wyoming State Capitol Auditorium. During this presentation, Mihara will share his personal account of the Japanese American imprisonment at Heart Mountain and its civil rights abuses during WWII.

This event is in partnership with the Laramie County Public Library with support from the Wyoming Humanities Council. Participants have the option to participate in-person or join us online by registering through our Eventbrite page, https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/wyoming-state-archives-speaker-series-834529.Those attending in-person should enter through the Wyoming State Capitol main entrance located at 200 W 24th St, Cheyenne, WY 82001.

The next evening event is titled "Tom Horn - 120 Years Later" and will be held on Thursday, October 12, at 7 p.m.

Wyoming State Archives, in partnership with the Laramie County Public Library, will host a panel of three historians, D. Claudia Thompson, Larry Ball, and John Davis, to discuss Tom Horn and his legacy. This discussion will be moderated by historian Rick Ewig.

This event will be held at the Laramie County Public Library located at 2200 Pioneer Ave, Cheyenne, WY 82001. Participants are also welcome to join us online by registering through our Eventbrite page, https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/wyoming-state-archives-speaker-series-834529.

On Monday, October 30, Governor Dave Freudenthal will talk about his book, "Wyoming: The Paradox of Plenty, The Allure and Risk of a Mineral Economy.” 

This event will be held at 7 p.m. in the Capitol Auditorium located in the extension of the Wyoming State Capitol Complex, 200 W 24th St., Cheyenne, Wyoming. Contact the Wyoming State Archives at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

The three lunchtime talks will be held online from noon to 1 p.m. MT online on Tuesdays during the month of October. Join us as genealogist and processing archivist Robin Everett demonstrates how to find those, “Skeletons in the Closet: Genealogy Research in the State Archives” on Tuesday, October 3rd. Everett will tell stories and share tips on using the State Archives resources to uncover those skeletons in the closet and more about your family's history.

Join us on Thursday, October 10,  for "Happy Electronic Records Day: Let's Talk Digital" with Cindy Brown and Dinah Miles. Cindy Brown, digital archivist for the Wyoming State Archives, and Dinah Miles, digital archivist for the American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming, will discuss electronic records in honor of 1010. This event will be held virtually. Contact the Wyoming State Archives at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

To wrap up the events, Jordan Meyerl will present "Something Strange in the Archives: Call the Roving Archivist" on October 31st.  Unsure how to survey a new acquisition? Need advice on archival preservation or utilizing environmental controls? Who ya gonna call? The Roving Archivist Program! For this presentation,

Meyerl will share information about the Wyoming Roving Archivist Program’s (RAP) offerings and how they can benefit institutions. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further information.

The RAP is a program of the Wyoming State Historical Records Advisory Board with funding from the National Historical Public Records Commission. The Wyoming State Archives facilitates this program in partnership with the University of Wyoming's American Heritage Center.

Wyoming/American Archives Month, celebrated each October, celebrates the work of archives and archivists across the nation to collect, preserve, and provide access to our shared documentary history. Celebrated every October since 2001, Family History Month brings opportunities to improve your genealogy skills, find out about new resources, and meet others who share your passion for the past. Electronic Records Day, observed each October 10 as a nod to binary code (1010), is a day dedicated to creating awareness of the importance of electronic records and their management.

The Wyoming State Archives collects, manages, and preserves Wyoming state public records that have long-term administrative, legal, and historical value. These records document the history of our state and the activities of Wyoming Government offices. The Archives also collects non-government records that contribute to the understanding of the state’s history.

For more information, contact Sara Davis, Wyoming State Archivist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call the WSA at 307-777-7826. The Wyoming State Archives is accessible according to the Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. If you require special assistance, please contact the Wyoming State Archives at 307-777-7826.

The Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources Commission will meet September 6-7 in Thermopolis.

On September 6, the Commission will tour Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site, as well as Hot Springs State Park.

On September 7, the Commission will meet at the Hot Springs County Museum, 700 Broadway Street in Thermopolis and hear a general update of the Department, elect officers and discuss improvements at Buffalo Bill and Hot Springs state parks. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. and is expected to adjourn by 2 p.m.

The Wyoming State Parks & Cultural Resources Commission has advisory responsibility for the agency which involves the planning, acquisition, development and management of all State Parks, the State Trails Program, State Recreation Areas, State Historic Sites and Archaeology sites and Outdoor Recreation Office. The Commission also advises the Wyoming State Museum, Wyoming Arts Council, the official State Records Center and Archives, the Office of the State Archaeologist, historical research activities, the State Historic Preservation Office and the Cultural Trust Fund.

Members of the Commission are: President Robert Tyrrell, DDS, Star Valley Ranch; Vice-President Sue Peters, Riverton; Julie Greer, Sheridan; Dudley Gardner, Ph.D, Rock Springs; Barbara Anne Greene, Basin; Leslie Stewart, Lusk; Ken McCann, Cheyenne; Angela Emery, Casper; and David Bassett, Evanston. 
 

For more information please contact Tatum Soto at 307-777-7496 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Collaboratives to Meet in September

Wyoming’s Office of Outdoor Recreation facilitates seven outdoor recreation collaboratives convened throughout the state to bring together local community members, recreation stakeholders, businesses, conservation groups, federal and state agencies, and elected officials to identify and prioritize grassroot opportunities for the growth and enhancement of outdoor recreation.

Dates, times, locations, and call-in information are as follows:

● Wind River Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (WRORC - Fremont County) - will meet on Thursday, September 14th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Dubois Library (202 N 1st St). Join virtually here: https://meet.google.com/mdd-gaff-cdm or dial: ‪(US) +1 470-268-2852 PIN: ‪685 827 292#. On the agenda for the meeting is subcommittee updates, a group brainstorm/update on Dubois topics, an early discussion for a WRORC clean-up day, and more.

● Southeast Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (SWORC - Albany and Carbon Counties) - will meet on Thursday, September 7th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Best Western Cottontree Inn in Rawlins (2221 W Spruce St). Join virtually here: https://meet.google.com/dzw-xnkj-oii or dial: ‪(US) +1 530-420-7745 PIN: ‪528 715 158#. The agenda includes a presentation from the National Forest Foundation, an update on subcommittees, an action item for collaborative members, the introduction of new ideas in the community, and more.

● Sweetwater County Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (SCORC - Sweetwater County) - will meet on Tuesday, September 12th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Rock Springs Library (400 C St). Join virtually here: https://meet.google.com/jyy-ieqi-tzi or dial: ‪(US) +1 601-658-0385 PIN: ‪508 969 169#. The agenda includes partner updates/Q&As, subcommittee updates, an overview of the collaborative Flaming Gorge Bus Tour, and more.

Members of the public are welcome to attend collaborative meetings in-person or virtually. There will be a designated time for public comment near the end of each meeting.

Established by recommendation of the 2017 Governor’s Outdoor Recreation Task Force, the Office of Outdoor Recreation aims to diversify Wyoming’s economy by expanding, enhancing, and promoting responsible recreational opportunities through collaboration, outreach, and coordination with stakeholders, landowners, private industry, and public officials.

Learn more about the Office and future community collaboratives by following us on social media or visiting www.wyorec.com.

One of Wyoming State Park’s longest-running celebrations continues this weekend with the 36^th Annual Bear River Mountain Man Rendezvous August 24-27.

This fun and educational event celebrates the life of the fur trader and mountain man featuring a variety of demonstrations and competitions including Mountain Man skills, Hawk and Knife Throw, black powder shoot, flint knapping, a blacksmith, a fry pan toss, dutch oven cookout and more.

The fun begins at 10 a.m. on Friday, 8 a.m. on Saturday, and 9 a.m. on Sunday.

On Saturday, the public is invited to enjoy the Buck-Skinner Ball beginning at 8 p.m. and featuring the Mountain Man music of Tom and Carol Messerly.

Tents, tipis, and camps offer visitors a chance to explore the charms and surprises of an early 1800s setting at their own pace.

All events are free and open to the public.