Contact: Melisa McChesney, 307-630-2573; melisa.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Participate in the Wyoming State Museum's Social Impact Study

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — February 3, 2025 — The Wyoming State Museum is participating in the Museum Social Impact in Practice (MSIIP) study, a national initiative led by the American Alliance of Museums and funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. After a competitive application process, the Wyoming State Museum was selected alongside 39 museums representing 25 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico.

Previous studies have demonstrated the role museums play as economic engines in their communities and as educational resources for students. The MSIIP study will measure the impact museums have on visitors across a number of metrics, including the ability to engage in lifelong learning, increased connection with friends and family, and even improved health outcomes.

The study will use the Measurement of Museum Social Impact toolkit, validated through pilot projects completed in 2023, to provide innovative methods to measure and communicate museums' vital social role in their communities. To succeed, the State Museum is calling on 100 individuals to participate!

To sign up, visit bit.ly/ImpactWSM.

If selected, participants will visit the museum with at least one friend or family member three different times between March 3 and August 30, 2025. Participants will then complete a 30-minute survey to share how their experiences at the museum impacted various outcomes. 

Participants who complete the study will receive:

• 25% off at the museum store during each of their three visits. 
• An invitation to attend a behind-the-scenes tour of the museum collection to be scheduled in the Fall of 2025. 
• A gift bag including museum swag and a free taco coupon from Taco Johns.
• Early access to tickets for the April 19 "Taps & Traps: A Mountain Man Survival Night."

Additionally, each visit during the study period will earn participants one raffle ticket towards a number of exciting prizes, including an annual State Parks pass, gift cards to Black Tooth Brewing, Sanfords, Westby's, and SCHEELS, beer tickets for Blue Raven Brewery, and tickets to the Cheyenne Depot Museum.

Don't miss the chance to help the Wyoming State Museum understand the significant value it brings to the community. Visit bit.ly/ImpactWSM or scan the QR code to sign up before Friday, February 21, 2025.

Contact: Larry Goodwin, 307-766-2765; Lgoodwi2@uwyo.edu

Wyoming State Museum to Host Healthy U Workshop Series

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — January 23, 2025 —    The Wyoming State Museum is proud to host a six-week Healthy U workshop series brought to you by the Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA). The series will be offered in the museum classroom on Saturdays from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. from February 8 through March 22. This evidence-based program, developed by Stanford University, improves symptoms related to a wide variety of chronic conditions, builds confidence in managing health conditions, and increases physical activity.

"Now is the perfect time to take charge of your health, and Healthy U can help you do that! Healthy U will be offered virtually on a rolling basis, as well as in-person workshops around the state," says Larry Goodwin, project coordinator for WyCOA. "By attending Healthy U workshops, you can learn new ways to better manage your health."

Chronic conditions include anything that affects someone on a day-to-day basis, such as diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, depression, heart disease, chronic pain, anxiety, multiple sclerosis, and fibromyalgia.

During the workshop, participants receive support from trained leaders and other workshop participants, learn practical ways to manage their pain and fatigue, understand nutrition and exercise options, explore new treatment choices, and discover better ways to communicate about their conditions with doctors and family members. The workshop aims to help people better manage their health conditions and deal with the frustration, fatigue, and pain that can accompany a chronic disease.

In addition to the in-person program at the Wyoming State Museum, the Wyoming Center on Aging at the University of Wyoming will offer virtual options. WyCOA's next online Healthy U workshop will be on Wednesdays from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. from February 5 to March 12. Virtual workshops are open to any Wyoming resident and enable participants to learn skills and receive support from the comfort of their homes. Participants can connect using a smartphone, tablet, or computer. One-on-one technical assistance will be provided.

Register online for free at bit.ly/WyoHealthyU.

Learn more about the University of Wyoming's Center on Aging programs at uwyo.edu/healthierwyo.

Contact: Nathan Doerr, 307-823-2935; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Wyoming State Museum Presents New Exhibit: Inspired by the Land

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — January 15, 2025 — Inspired by the Land: 25 Years of Conserving Wyoming's Working Lands, an exhibit honoring relationships between people, wildlife, livestock, and the conservation of agricultural lands, will be displayed in the Capitol Gallery at the Wyoming State Capitol from January 10 - July 10, 2025. The Wyoming State Museum is honored to present this special exhibit celebrating the Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust's 25-year commitment to preserving agricultural lands.

Thoughtfully curated by a committee of eight, this exhibit showcases historic and ongoing relationships between people and the land through a diverse collection of photography, paintings, poetry, fiber arts, and historic artifacts contributed by more than 20 individuals across the state. Each piece shares a story of the land's deep significance for landowners and their families. Andrea Graham, guest curator for the exhibit, explains, "We hope their words and images inspire you to recognize your own connections to our treasured landscapes."

Graham is a public folklorist who has worked in the American Studies Program at the University of Wyoming, as well as an independent folklorist and oral historian, undertaking field research and producing programs and exhibits.

Inspired by the Land was created in partnership between the Wyoming State Museum and the Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust, with support from the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund, Wyoming Humanities, Wyoming Community Foundation, and the Land Trust Alliance.

The Wyoming State Capitol is open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is closed on State holidays.

Image caption: Inspired by the Land: 25 Years of Conserving Wyoming’s Working Lands, on view through July 10, 2025, in the Capitol Gallery.

The Wyoming State Museum is excited to kick off its 2025 Family Day event series with a cozy Pajama Party on Saturday, January 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Families are invited to dress in their pajamas and join in the exploration of winter’s impact on Wyoming’s plants and wildlife.

This family-friendly event offers an engaging way to learn about the animal world, focusing on winter survival strategies such as migration, hibernation, and brumation. Activities include:

Testing out a “blubber glove” to see if kids can submerge their hands in ice water without feeling cold.
Discovering if your sense of smell is as good as a wolf’s.
Keeping a precious egg warm during a “Penguin Shuffle” relay race.
Viewing fascinating biofacts and specimens up close.
Creating adorable crafts to take home.

Partner organizations, including Audubon Rockies and the Cheyenne Animal Shelter, will add to the fun with activities and expertise. Visitors can also enjoy warm winter beverages from Barrett Creek Coffee, which will be parked outside the museum.

The Wyoming State Museum is located in the Barrett Building at 2301 Central Ave., Cheyenne. For more information, please call 307-630-2573. Family Day enthusiasts can stay informed about future events by following the museum’s social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram at @wyomingstatemuseum.

The Wyoming State Museum recently acquired 50 museum-grade drawers for artifact storage, thanks to support from various funding sources. These drawers are essential for properly housing two significant recently donated collections: one featuring Native American artifacts and the other consisting of firearms. This purchase will provide high-quality storage for these artifacts for decades and allow for continued growth in these collection areas. 

“Our gratitude to the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund and the Greenwood Fund of the Denver Foundation cannot be overstated,” said Mandy Langfald, curator of collections at the Wyoming State Museum. “Their generous support enables us to preserve our collections with the care and respect they deserve. Proper storage is crucial for conserving these artifacts and ensuring that future generations can appreciate the rich history they represent.” 

The project was made possible by a grant from the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund (WCTF), part of the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, along with support from the Greenwood Fund of the Denver Foundation. 

For more information about the collections and exhibitions at the Wyoming State Museum, visit https://wyomuseum.wyo.gov.