Category Archives: American Heritage Center

Behind the Mountain: The Story of the Centennial Complex

Posted on March 9, 2026 by ahcadmin

When you approach the University of Wyoming’s Centennial Complex, you’re met with an imposing sight: a massive cone rising from the earth, its dark metal skin catching the Wyoming light. It’s unlike any other building on campus—or frankly, anywhere else. … Continue reading →

Posted in American Heritage Center, Architecture, Centennial Complex, Uncategorized, University Architecture, University of Wyoming | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Excavating Fear: The Emotional History of the American West

Posted on January 19, 2026 by ahcadmin

“PRAY FOR ME. I AM ALONE.” When Reverend Cyrus Byington penned these words in all capital letters from Indian Territory in 1841, he captured something often overlooked in the grand narrative of American westward expansion: terror. Surrounded by strangers, listening … Continue reading →

Posted in American Heritage Center, Research grants, Uncategorized, Western history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Decoding Stan Lee’s Spider-Man Movie Notes from 1984

Posted on May 12, 2025 by ahcadmin

The American Heritage Center houses a vast number of Stan Lee’s personal papers, including handwritten notecards from 1984 that reveal his first ideas for a Spider-Man movie.  Last fall, I had the amazing opportunity to view copies of these notecards … Continue reading →

Posted in American Heritage Center, Comic book history, Stan Lee, Student projects, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Wyoming Quilt Project: Preserving History Through Quilts

Posted on April 28, 2025 by ahcadmin

In 1994, a small but dedicated group of Wyoming women came together to start documenting the state’s quilts. The Wyoming Quilt Project was created with a mission of photographing and recording details about Wyoming’s quilts—those that were made in the … Continue reading →

Posted in American Heritage Center, Culture and heritage, Oral history, Textile Arts, Uncategorized, women's history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Video Series Brings Union Pacific Railroad Stories to Life

Posted on March 24, 2025 by ahcadmin

When you think of the Union Pacific Railroad, you might picture massive locomotives or endless stretches of track crossing the plains. But for a recent American Heritage Center oral history project, it’s the people and their stories that take center … Continue reading →

Posted in American Heritage Center, American history, Community Stories, Labor History, Oral history, Railroad History, Transportation history, Uncategorized, Union Pacific Railroad, women's history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Remembering Al: A Friend Who Just Happened to Be a Senator

Posted on March 14, 2025 by ahcadmin

On March 14, we lost Al Simpson. My heart feels heavy as I write these words. At the American Heritage Center, we knew him like so many others did—as a benefactor, yes, but more importantly, as a friend. I’ve been … Continue reading →

Posted in Alan K. Simpson Institute for Western Politics and Leadership, American Heritage Center, Memorial Tributes, Political history, Uncategorized, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Studying Stan – The Creation of Stan Lee: Beyond the Book

Posted on April 29, 2024 by ahcadmin

In June 2023, a team of three University of Wyoming student interns began researching the papers of Stan Lee, which are housed at the American Heritage Center (AHC). Their interns’ intention was to create an exciting and informative exhibit about … Continue reading →

Posted in American Heritage Center, behind the scenes, Comic book history, Current events, Entertainment history, exhibits, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Remembering Antoine Predock: A Visionary Architect and His Legacy

Posted on March 11, 2024 by ahcadmin

Antoine Predock, the visionary architect behind the University of Wyoming’s Centennial Complex, passed away on March 2, 2024, at the age of 87. The iconic structure, designed to house the American Heritage Center and the Art Museum, was composed of … Continue reading →

Posted in American Heritage Center, Architecture, Centennial Complex, Uncategorized, University of Wyoming | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Bringing AHC Archives to Life in the Field: Rediscovering Wyoming’s Geology through Doc Knight

Posted on January 15, 2024 by ahcadmin

Erin Stoesz, Wyoming State Science Fair Director and Assistant Lecturer in the UW Geology Department, recently completed an exciting project revising GEOL2080, which is UW’s general field geology course, with the support of a Teaching and Research Grant from the … Continue reading →

Posted in American Heritage Center, announcements, Curriculum Development, Education, Geology, Uncategorized, University of Wyoming | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why Wyoming? An Investigation into Stan Lee’s Relationship with the American Heritage Center

Posted on December 11, 2023 by ahcadmin

The University of Wyoming’s American Heritage Center is home to thousands of collections. Perhaps one of the most popular, and equally perplexing, collections is the Stan Lee Papers, the official archive of the celebrated author, editor, and Marvel Comics trailblazer. … Continue reading →

Posted in American Heritage Center, Biography and profiles, Comic book history, Entertainment history, Interns' projects, Marvel Comics, Pop Culture, popular culture, Stan Lee, Superheroes, Uncategorized, University of Wyoming | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments