Category Archives: Wyoming history

The Buffalo Bill Dam – Discover the Story of Wyoming’s Tallest Dam

Posted on October 24, 2022 by ahcadmin

The Buffalo Bill Dam was designed by engineer Daniel Webster Cole and built between 1905 and 1910. It was one of the first projects undertaken by the U.S. Reclamation Service (later known as the Bureau of Reclamation). The dam sits … Continue reading →

Posted in Agricultural history, Construction, Heart Mountain Relocation Center, Immigration, Irrigation, Shoshone Dam, Uncategorized, water resources, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Roped In: Sara Hagel and Horsehair Rope Making

Posted on October 10, 2022 by ahcadmin

What is simple work? In a fast-paced society, we often overlook jobs which require a lot of time, skill, and mistake making to master. Many jobs today are considered “simple,” “easy,” or “low-skill” despite requiring specific skills and a great … Continue reading →

Posted in Agricultural history, Agriculture, Artists, Fiber Arts, Folklife, Interns' projects, Livestock industry, Uncategorized, women's history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted on October 3, 2022 by ahcadmin

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, American Heritage Center, Coronavirus outbreak, COVID-19, Digital collections, Local history, Pandemics, Uncategorized, University of Wyoming history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Art of the Hunt: Jake Korell’s Story

Posted on September 26, 2022 by ahcadmin

Jacob “Trapper Jake” Korell (1914-2013) was a legendary Wyomingite who had a bright personality and a passion for trapping. He was skillful and thoughtful in his work and held great respect for the animals he caught. He began trapping when … Continue reading →

Posted in Digital collections, oral histories, Uncategorized, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Powell Tribune’s La Pagina Español

Posted on September 12, 2022 by ahcadmin

National Hispanic Heritage Month, which spans the period from September 15 to October 15, was first observed as a heritage week under President Lyndon Johnson in 1968 then became a federally recognized heritage month under President Ronald Regan in 1988. … Continue reading →

Posted in Agricultural history, community collections, Digital collections, Hispanic Heritage Month, Immigration, Immigration Policy, Mexican-American history, Racial bias, Uncategorized, Under-documented communities, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wyoming’s Nuclear Response to Project Plowshare

Posted on August 22, 2022 by ahcadmin

Vice President Richard Nixon delivered these words in October 1960 to a Toledo, Ohio, fraternity group: “Our plan to develop peaceful constructive uses of nuclear explosives has been given the name of Project Plowshare, because it is literally an attempt … Continue reading →

Posted in Cold War, energy resources, environmental history, Nuclear energy, Political history, Uncategorized, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wrangling the Western Metaphor: Charles Belden’s Wyoming Imagery

Posted on August 15, 2022 by ahcadmin

Reaching the Pitchfork Ranch in the 1920s wasn’t easy. In fact, it was arduous. Imagine yourself on the trek. After transferring at the Billings, Montana, branch line to the end of the rails in Cody, Wyoming, a light horse-drawn stage … Continue reading →

Posted in Digital collections, outdoor recreation, Photographic collections, Ranch history, Tourism, Uncategorized, Western history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wyoming Statesman Alan K. Simpson

Posted on August 1, 2022 by ahcadmin

Al Simpson is pillar of Wyoming politics, a well-known name across the country, and a benefactor of the American Heritage Center. Simpson enjoyed a long political career spanning the years 1964 to 1997. He is both a politician and a … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography and profiles, Heart Mountain Relocation Center, Immigration Policy, Interns' projects, Uncategorized, Western history, western politics and leadership, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Steamboat: Wyoming’s Wildest Resident

Posted on July 25, 2022 by ahcadmin

It’s Cheyenne Frontier Days, so a great opportunity to talk about one of the quintessential Wyoming images: a cowboy on a bucking bronc. Wyoming’s original bucking bronc was a horse named Steamboat. His origin story is a bit murky. Some … Continue reading →

Posted in Agricultural history, Livestock industry, Rodeo history, Uncategorized, University of Wyoming history, Wyoming history, Wyoming History Day | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

No Room at the Inn: Owen Wister Encounters Wyoming, July – August 1885

Posted on July 18, 2022 by ahcadmin

In July 1885, Owen Wister visited Medicine Bow in Wyoming Territory as part of his tour of the region, only to discover there were no rooms available in town to sleep. Instead of moving on when he arrived on July … Continue reading →

Posted in 19th century, Authors and literature, Biography and profiles, Book history, Uncategorized, Western fiction, Western history, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment