Category Archives: Local history

The “Peculiar Vibrations” of the Sweetwater County Seat

Were some of Sweetwater County’s earliest records stolen from the new county seat and lost in the desert way back in the 1870s? This is a popular story around Green River, the current Sweetwater County seat. It turns out, there … Continue reading

Posted in Local history, mining history, Scandals, Uncategorized, Western history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Celebrating Archives Month (Hint: It’s actually bigger than just a month)

October is American Archives Month! To celebrate, we’re highlighting ways in which archives are staying involved in current events around the world, featuring the American Heritage Center’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Wyoming. Archives like the AHC assist communities … Continue reading

Posted in American Archives Month, COVID-19, Digital collections, Local history, Uncategorized, University of Wyoming history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A History of Powell, Wyoming

In honor of the incorporation of Powell Wyoming on May 10, 1910, here is a brief history and glance at the city. The history of Powell, Wyoming is long and storied. The Powell area was first discovered by white men … Continue reading

Posted in Agricultural history, Heart Mountain, Interns' projects, Local history, Uncategorized, water resources, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Photography of Lora Webb Nichols

The American Heritage Center recently premiered a new exhibit featuring the photography of longtime Encampment, Wyoming resident Lora Webb Nichols.  This exhibit, which is on display at the American Heritage Center until late July, was curated by Lora Webb Nichols … Continue reading

Posted in Local history, Photographic collections, Uncategorized, women's history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Laramie’s Latin American Club

September 15 through October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month. Wyoming has a historically significant Hispanic and Manito population, some of whom came and went for work while others made Wyoming their home. Spanish-speaking people from northern New Mexico, called … Continue reading

Posted in Immigration, Laramie, Local history, Manitos, Mexican-American history, Uncategorized, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Eat What You Want Day!

May 11 is “Eat What You Want Day.” What does that mean? Well, it means for one day you can forget your diet and, health permitting, treat yourself to a favorite food. Today, you can say “Yes-Yes” to that slice … Continue reading

Posted in Animal actors, community collections, Current events, Digital collections, Local history, Motion picture actors and actresses, Photographic collections, Uncategorized, University of Wyoming history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Emancipation Day at Cheyenne’s Allen Chapel AME Church

You’ve probably heard of Juneteenth, but have you ever heard of Emancipation Day? Emancipation Day has been celebrated on different dates in the U.S. since the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862. The tradition of Watch … Continue reading

Posted in African American history, community collections, Digital collections, Local history, Uncategorized, Under-documented communities, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Cheque-Book of Beautiful New Year Wishes

Christian Isberg was a native of Sweden who came to Laramie, Wyoming, in 1868, when the town was first founded as a supply depot for the Union Pacific Railroad. He settled in the town and raised two sons, William H. and John, and … Continue reading

Posted in Digital collections, Family history, Holidays, Laramie, Local history, Photographic collections, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A Holiday Parade of Trees

For Thanksgiving we offered you a turkey parade. Now we present a parade of trees decorated for the holidays. The Empress Theater tucked their holiday tree beneath a stairwell in this photograph most likely from the early 1940s. The Empress … Continue reading

Posted in community collections, Holidays, Local history, Photographic collections, Uncategorized, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Living Through a Pandemic: Eight Months of Donations to the American Heritage Center’s COVID-19 Collection Project

The AHC COVID-19 Collection Project began in April 2020 as an effort to collect stories, photographs, poems, and other creative works that show the impact coronavirus has had on our community. Not just the University of Wyoming employees, students, and … Continue reading

Posted in Coronavirus outbreak, Current events, Local history, Pandemics, popular culture, Uncategorized | 1 Comment