The Green River Valley Museum
Page Summary: The Green River Valley Museum focuses on the bison hunters of prehistory, as well as other inhabitants of Sublette County, WY.
The Green River Valley Museum
The Green River Valley Museum is where to go for insight into the bison hunters of prehistory, as well as the cowboys, schoolteachers, miners and oilfield workers who shaped Sublette County as we know it, especially in the Big Piney area. Considering that the history and culture of the community is grounded in uniquely tough and resourceful groups of people, it should be no surprise that the Green River Valley Museum itself sprang to life in 1990 from the imagination, elbow grease and generosity of area residents. With a little extra help from the Wyoming Council for the Humanities, the Green River Valley Museum has quickly become a rich resource for locals and visitors alike. Attractive displays, fascinating artifacts from some of the area's founding families, and a great collection of oral histories make this modest facility a beloved institution with an impressive mission.
Big Piney rancher Nancy Espenscheid, one of the Museum's first board members, summed it up in this excerpt from The Sublette County Journal, March 13, 1998:
"The idea behind the Green River Valley Museum was not conceived to draw tourists or boost the economy. There have been no major wealthy benefactors to support it. Instead, it is simply a wonderful example of the efforts of a community which wanted to articulate and preserve its history … Wendell Berry expresses this so well in his essay, "The Work of Local Culture": 'A human community must collect its stories and turn them into account. It must build that memory of itself - in lore and story and song - which will be its culture.' The Green River Valley Museum has been instrumental in helping us define and honor our culture."
In addition, the Museum hosts lectures and discussions on regional history by scholars from the Wyoming Council for the Humanities Speakers Bureau.
Featured Exhibits:
- Prehistoric Indian Artifacts
- Restored Homesteader Cabin
- Pioneer Homesteading and Townsite Development
- Early Ranching and Brands
- Outdoor Ranch Equipment
- Area Oil and Gas History
- Historic Oil Field tools
- Family-Operated Coal Mines
- Big Piney Examiner Presses
- Campfire Girls Display
- Oral Histories
Green River Valley Museum General Information
206 N. Front St., Big Piney
307-276-5343
www.grvm.com
The Museum is open June 15 - October 15.
Hours are Noon - 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
For special tours, call the Museum at 307-276-5343 and leave a message.
No admission is charged but free will donations are appreciated.
If you're in town for the season opening on June 15, come enjoy special events, new displays and friendly people!
Visit the Green River Valley Museum's website at www.grvm.com
