WY Territorial Prison hopes to make Butch Cassidy Days a national tourist destination

Interesting article from the Associated Press about our sister agency in the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources. Butch Cassidy Days at Wyoming Territorial Prison just wrapped up on Sunday. The site's superintendent, Deborah Amend, is thinking big for next year's event:

“My vision for this site is to make this a national destination site, a regional intrigue site and an integral part of the community. I want it to become a very important part of Wyoming history and a part of the heritage of Laramie and this county.”

Read more here.

The Wyoming Arts Council provided a grant to Wyoming Territorial Prison Park to defray expenses for a June 2007 Butch Cassidy Days performance by Prickly Pair.

Buffalo Bill Boycott rides into Cheyenne July 10

Join us at the Historic Governor's Mansion on Sunday, July 10, 1:30-3:30 p.m. for a performance by Lander's Buffalo Bill Boycott, a Wyoming and western entertainer (and a member of the Wyoming Arts Council's artist roster). A free family event. Location: 300 E. 21st Street., Cheyenne. 307-777-7878. FMI: http://buffalobillboycott.com

WY SPCR Commission meets May 12-13 in Rock Springs

Members of the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources Commission will meet in Room 1309, Western Wyoming College in Rock Springs, May 12-13.

The Commission will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on May 12; and tour the Piedmont Kilns and Lincoln Highway Bridge on May 13.

During the meeting, the Commission will receive divisional updates and discuss a variety of State Parks and Cultural Resources issues, including a Glendo State Park flood update.

The Commission has advisory responsibility for both divisions of the department – State Parks, Historic Sites & Trails and Cultural Resources -- which involves the planning, acquisition, development and management of all state parks, state trails program, state recreation areas, state historic sites and archaeology sites. The Commission also advises the Wyoming State Museum, Wyoming Arts Council, the official State Records Center and Archives, the Office of the State Archeologist, historical research activities, the State Historic Preservation Office and the management of the Cultural Trust Fund.

Members of the Commission are: President Ernie Over, Pavillion; Dan Barks, Gillette; William Vines, Wheatland; Mary Hawkins, Devils Tower; Dudley Gardner, Ph.D, Rock Springs; Chuck Engebretson, Lost Springs; Carolyn Buff, Casper; Karen Haderlie, Thayne; and Barb Vietti, Thermopolis.

Brush up on your historic broom-making skills at free Territorial Prison workshop March 18

From Wyoming State Parks:

The Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site in Laramie will hold a free workshop for the public and potential volunteers, 18 years and older, who are interested in the art of constructing 1890s brooms.

Featured Broom Historian, Mark Parsons, Berthoud, Colo., will conduct the “hands-on” workshop on March 18, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Participants will learn the basic methods of broom construction utilizing vintage and replica broom making equipment to create their own handmade broom for decorative or functional use. Discussion of the history of brooms and broom making will be included. All skill levels welcome.

“A broom is such an ordinary object and yet it can be very reminiscent of a simpler time.” Deborah Amend, superintendent of the Wyoming Territorial Prison said. “Brooms were a commonplace, functional item in every household. In 1892 the Prison, recognizing the potential revenue from the broom industry, began producing brooms commercially, using convict labor, and shipped them all over the United States, Hawaii and internationally as far away as Asia.”

This workshop is also offered to educate and train any new volunteers who would like to refine their broom making skills and do living history presentations during the site’s summer season by volunteering to work in the Prison Industry Building. Selected volunteers will receive appropriate uniforms, training and historical information related to convict industries at the prison.

For additional information or to register for the workshop call 307-745-6161. The Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site, located at 975 Snowy Range Road in Laramie, opens for the season on April 30 and will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. until October 31.

FMI: Deborah Amend or 307-777-7878

Christina Bird named new director of Wyoming Historic Governor's Mansion

From a SPCR press release:

Christina Bird, former associate director of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum, is the new superintendent of the Wyoming Historic Governors’ Mansion.

Bird received a Bachelor’s degree in History from Colorado State University, and has also served as the assistant to the director for the Daughters of the Republic of Texas Museum in Austin.

"We are delighted to hire Christina, we know her talents and skills will be of great benefit to this unique and important historic site," Domenic Bravo, Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites and Trails administrator said.

Bird replaces Deborah Amend, who is now the superintendent of the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site in Laramie. Bird begins her new duties April 13.

SPCR Commission meets Feb. 11-12

From a SPCR press release:

Members of the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources Commission will meet Thursday and Friday, Feb. 11-12, in the Ballroom of the Historic Plains Hotel in Cheyenne.

The body will meet from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on February 11 and 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on February 12.

During the meeting, the Commission will receive divisional updates and discuss a variety of State Parks and Cultural Resources issues, including the departmental budget request and proposed legislation for the upcoming budget session of the state legislature.

Also while in Cheyenne, the Commission will visit the Wyoming State Museum and attend the 28th Annual Governor’s Arts Awards being held Friday, February 12, at Little America.

The Commission has advisory responsibility for the Division of State Parks, Historic Sites & Trails, which involves the planning, acquisition, development and management of all state parks, state trails program, state recreation areas, state historic sites and archaeology sites. The Commission also advises the Division of Cultural resources, which includes the Wyoming State Museum, Wyoming Arts Council, the official State Records Center and Archives, the Office of the State Archeologist, historical research activities, the State Historic Preservation Office and the management of the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund.

Members of the Commission are: President Ernie Over, Pavillion; Dan Barks, Gillette; William Vines, Wheatland; Mary Hawkins, Devils Tower; Dudley Gardner, Ph.D, Rock Springs; Linda Fabian, Wheatland; Carolyn Buff, Casper; Karen Haderlie, Thayne; and Barb Vietti, Thermopolis.

Help wanted: Wyoming Territorial Prison/Park

The Territorial Prison/Park in Laramie, an historic site within the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, is looking for an Historic Program Supervisor.

"This position manages a large historic site and state park to fulfill the department objectives of preservation, protection, and interpretation of the cultural resources, and the historic and archival collections for the citizens of this state and the nation."

Apply online at http://statejobs.state.wy.us/JobSearchDetail.aspx?ID=16081 or submit a State of Wyoming Employment Application to the Human Resource Division, Emerson Building, 2001 Capitol Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82002-0060 (307-777-7188, Fax: 307-777-6562), along with transcripts of any relevant course work.

Buffalo Bill Dam celebration features book signing by Beryl Gail Churchill

Officials at Buffalo Bill State Park are preparing for the 100th anniversary of the completion of the Buffalo Bill Dam with a formal commemoration and public centennial photograph on January 16.

During the celebration, the Buffalo Bill Visitor Center will open at 9 a.m. Refreshments will be available and Beryl Gail Churchill will sign the centennial edition of her book, “Challenging the Canyon.”

The centennial photograph will be taken at 11 a.m. The public is invited to participate in the taking of the photograph. The Cody Trolley will be available to transport event participants from the Buffalo Bill Historical Center parking lot beginning at 9:45 a.m.

The Buffalo Bill Dam, originally called the Shoshone Dam, was completed in 1910, and at the time, was the highest dam in the world at 325 feet. Today, water stored behind the dam offers great recreational opportunities, and provides drinking and irrigation water to the Big Horn Basin.

The Buffalo Bill Visitor Center first opened in May 1993, and provides information about the dam, Cody and the Greater Yellowstone area. The center is staffed with local volunteers, paid staff and a Bureau of Land Management volunteer.

A gift store offers educational books and DVDs, and a small theater offers the visitor a one-of-a-kind experience in which to learn about the dam.

FMI: http://www.bbdvc.com/.

Bear River State Park - Video Series

Bear River State Park has partnered with the Uinta County Library to preview the video series, "The National Parks: America's Best Idea."

The six-video series, directed by Ken Burns and written and co-produced by Dayton Duncan, will be previewed on Tuesday September 22, at the Bear River Travel Information Center.

The series will be shown hourly beginning at 9 a.m. Anyone interested in previewing this series is welcome to attend. The series will be aired on PBS beginning on September 27 and running through October 2.

For more information, call Bear River State Park at 307-789-6547.