CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Aug. 18, 2026 – Opening Saturday, Aug. 29, in the Capitol Gallery, “A Prescription for History: The Legacy of Jim Gatchell” explores how Buffalo pharmacist Jim Gatchell’s curiosity, civic spirit, and commitment to preserving local history became a lasting legacy. Through artifacts, artwork, and photographs from the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum, the exhibition tells the story of northeastern Wyoming while celebrating the enduring impact one individual can have on preserving a community’s history.

An opening reception will be held from 10:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 29, featuring remarks from Governor Mark Gordon, Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum Executive Director Sylvia Bruner, and Wyoming State Museum Capitol Curator Nathan Doerr. Light refreshments will be served.

Following Gatchell’s death, his family donated his collection to the people of Johnson County with the understanding that a museum would be established to preserve it. Since opening in 1957, the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum has continued that mission. In 2023, the museum received the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor for museums and libraries, in recognition of its exceptional service to the community.

“Jim Gatchell and his family epitomize one of the best and simplest examples of legacy: good people doing good works,” said Sylvia Bruner, executive director of the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum. “Jim didn’t walk into life with any special advantage or resource. He was a western boy, a pharmacist, and a family man. What wasn’t typical about him was his constant desire to learn from other people, cultures, and events.”

Drawing from the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum’s collections, including objects from Jim Gatchell’s original collection, the exhibition brings the history of northeastern Wyoming to new audiences through the Capitol Gallery. In doing so, it reflects the Gallery’s mission of providing museums across Wyoming with a unique opportunity to share their collections with visitors from across the state and beyond. “This exhibition shares the story of one community while celebrating the work taking place in museums across Wyoming,” said Nathan Doerr, capitol curator of the Wyoming State Museum. “Every museum collection tells a uniquely Wyoming story. Whether large or small, those collections preserve pieces of our shared history and help ensure those stories remain accessible for future generations.”

“A Prescription for History: The Legacy of Jim Gatchell” will be on view from Aug. 29, 2026, through March 12, 2027, in the Capitol Gallery in the Wyoming Capitol. The gallery features changing exhibitions developed in partnership with museums and cultural institutions from across the state.

The Wyoming Capitol is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Extended summer Saturday hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. continue through Sept. 26.