News

13 June 2025

Governor Gordon Proclaims June 17 - July 4, 2025, as Civic Season in Wyoming

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

Governor Gordon Proclaims June 17 - July 4, 2025, as Civic Season in Wyoming

CHEYENNE, WY –June 13, 2025– Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon officially signed a proclamation on June 12, 2025, declaring June 17 to July 4, 2025, as Civic Season in Wyoming. This statewide initiative encourages reflection on the nation's history and active participation in shaping its future.

The season begins on June 17th at 5:30 pm with a panel at the Laramie County Library that will highlight local high school students in conversation with civic superheroes Melissa Martin, Marguerite Herman, JoLynn Paulsen, and Milward Simpson. It culminates with the Civic Season Festival on Wednesday, July 2, from 5:30 - 8:00 pm on the Wyoming State Museum grounds, where guests can enjoy live music, inspiring speeches, and creative educational activities that help individuals learn more about civics. A full schedule can be found at: wyomuseum.wyo.gov/civicseason.

The Wyoming State Museum has been a leading force in Civic Season since 2022, expanding its programming this year to include a "slice of History" pizza party at the Wyoming Women's History House in Laramie on Wednesday, June 25 at 6:30 pm. Melisa McChesney, Curator of Community Engagement at the museum, emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating, "Civic Season is a new American tradition encouraging people to go beyond hotdogs and fireworks to dive deep into our nation's democracy, identity, and future." Each of the six upcoming Civic Season events is designed as an entry point into civic engagement, utilizing games, community debates, teenage speakers, pizza parties, and even live music to create fun and inviting environments for civic education and exploration.

Wyoming’s Civic Season was developed by the Wyoming State Museum with the support of essential community partners and speakers including Better Together, Braver Angels, CHISPA, Cheyenne League of Women Voters, Laramie County Community Partnership, Laramie County Library System, Lions Club, Kiwanis Club, NAACP Cheyenne, Wyoming ACLU, Dr. Rev. Hilton McClendon, Sr., Former Representative Jim Byrd, Kylie McCormick, Representative Lee Filer, and County Clerk Debra Lee.

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Figure 1: Governor Gordon displays the Civic Season proclamation at its signing on Thursday, June 12, 2025. Figure 2: Civic Season planning committee members and Wyoming State Parks & Cultural Resources employees pose for a photo with the Governor at the Civic Season 2025 proclamation signing.

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

02 June 2025

Wyoming State Museum Launches Civic Season 2025

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

Wyoming State Museum Launches Civic Season 2025

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — June 2, 2025 — The Wyoming State Museum, in partnership with the Laramie County Library, Wyoming Women’s History House, Braver Angels of Laramie County, the Cheyenne League of Women Voters, and Wyoming Humanities, is thrilled to announce Civic Season 2025.

Join over 500 cultural and civic institutions nationwide for a unique summer experience that goes beyond hot dogs and fireworks. This year, we're diving deep into our democracy and exploring how each of us can shape our nation’s future. It is a new non-partisan tradition for learning and action, offering a fun, social way to learn, connect, and get inspired. Whether you’re passionate about history, eager to engage in community discussions, looking for ways to make a difference, or just interested in the free food, there’s something for everyone.

Wyoming’s Civic Season, running from June 17 to July 2, is funded by a Wyoming Humanities Community Culture Grant. Led by the Wyoming State Museum and a dedicated local planning committee, this year’s Civic Season includes six lively events across Cheyenne and Laramie.

The following Civic Season events will take place in Cheyenne:

Civic Chat: Today's Superheroes Guiding Tomorrow's Changemakers

June 17, 5:30 PM, Laramie County Library

Join Braver Angels to listen in on conversations with local youth and Civic Superheroes who will share their experiences, give advice, and explore the countless ways we can all unleash our Civic Superpowers!

A Slice of History: Unity in Action

June 19, 6:30 PM, Wyoming State Museum

Drop in for the perfect pairing of pizza and history featuring Rev. Dr. Hilton McClendon Sr., pastor at Allen Chapel AME Church in Cheyenne, and Jim Byrd, a fifth-generation Wyomingite and former state legislator. The evening will begin with a round of trivia followed by stories of local and national civil rights activism.

Community Conversation: Should the Government Regulate Social Media?

June 24, 5:30 PM, Laramie County Library

Braver Angels invites people from all walks of life to come together and have a productive conversation about the topic of social media regulation.

Democracy Under Construction

June 26, 6:30 PM, Wyoming State Museum

What makes Wyoming special to you? What are the challenges facing civic engagement today? Play Jenga while having fun conversations and sharing personal stories about democracy in Wyoming.

Civic Season Festival

July 2, 5:30 PM, Wyoming State Museum

Wrap up the season with live music from Winston Creek, food vendors, art and activities, information booths highlighting local civic organizations, and inspiring speeches from Kylie McCormick, Debra Lee, and Lee Filer.

The following Civic Season events will take place in Laramie:

A Slice of History: Wyoming’s Women’s Suffrage Story

June 25, 6:30 PM, Wyoming Women’s History House

Come together for an evening of pizza, trivia, and a talk from Kylie McCormick. She’ll keep you on the edge of your seat with her engaging talk about the Women’s Suffrage movement in Wyoming.

The Wyoming State Museum is located at 2301 Central Ave. Fans can follow the museum's Facebook and Instagram accounts, @WyomingStateMuseum, to stay informed about upcoming events, programs, and exhibits. Learn more about Civic Season 2025 on the Wyoming State Museum website at wyomuseum.wyo.gov/civicseason.

Figure 1: A museum volunteer records an oral history interview with an attendee at the 2023 Civic Season Festival. Figure 2: Galactic Lemonz perform at the 2023 Civic Season Festival. This year’s festival will include two music performances from Laramie-based band, Winston Creek. Figure 3: We The People students share their perspectives and inspirations on stage at the Laramie County Library during Civic Season 2024.

21 May 2025

Wyoming Agency Partners Launch Exhibit Celebrating Rare Bone Needle

Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources.png

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Contact: Gwendolyn Kristy, 307-766-5366; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Wyoming Agency Partners Launch Exhibit Celebrating Rare Bone Needle

CHEYENNE, Wyo. –May 21, 2025 – To celebrate Wyoming's rich cultural heritage, the Wyoming Historic Preservation Office and the Wyoming State Museum—both part of the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources (SPCR)—have partnered with the University of Wyoming's Archaeological Repository (UWAR) to create a temporary exhibit titled "Threads through Time: Bone Needles in Wyoming's Archaeological Record." This exhibit highlights an extraordinary archaeological discovery made in eastern Wyoming and will be displayed at the Wyoming State Museum for the following year.

The exhibit focuses on ancient sewing techniques and artifacts, featuring a fragment of a bone needle recovered from excavations at the La Prele mammoth site near Douglas, Wyoming. University of Wyoming Professor Todd A. Surovell states, "Sewing needles made from bone are among the smallest artifacts found in archaeological sites." The bone needle on display is 12,950 years old, one of North America's oldest known bone needles. The needle has received much attention in the press over the last year and has been featured in publications such as Archaeology Magazine and Smithsonian Magazine. This exhibit will allow members of the public to see this remarkable needle in person.

The exhibit highlights other tools found in archaeological contexts related to clothing production or sewing, such as bone awls and stone scrapers. While spear points and mammoth hunting are often images conjured when thinking of Wyoming Archaeology, sewing technology was critical to past people's lifeways. Surprisingly, the bone needle fragment on display was not manufactured from an animal we typically think of Native Americans hunting, such as bison. Instead, the needle was made from the bone of a red fox.

The bone needle is also featured on the 2025 Wyoming Archaeology Awareness Month poster, which is available free of charge and can be picked up at the Wyoming State Museum by the exhibit or from the State Historic Preservation Office in Cheyenne or in Laramie in the Anthropology building located at 12th and Lewis, Room 312. If you wish to have a poster mailed, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for details.

For more information about the temporary exhibit, contact Elisabeth DeGrenier, supervisor of exhibits and programs at the Wyoming State Museum, at 307-275-4018 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can learn more about Wyoming Archaeology Awareness Month at wyoshpo.wyo.gov.

Figure 1: Close-up image demonstrating just how small the bone needle found at La Prele is. Photograph by Mike Vanata. Figure 2: Close-up image of the bone needle used on the 2025 Wyoming Archaeology Month Posters. Photograph by Mike Vanata.

Contact: Gwendolyn Kristy, 307-766-5366; gwendolyn.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

13 May 2025

Wyoming State Museum Launches Conservation Project for State-Owned Sculptures

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Contact: Jennifer Alexander, 307-214-5890; jennifer.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Wyoming State Museum Launches Conservation Project for State-Owned Sculptures

CHEYENNE, WY — May 13, 2025 — The Wyoming State Museum is pleased to announce a conservation project for the care of state-owned sculptures across Wyoming. These sculptures are part of the Art in Public Buildings program jointly managed by the Wyoming State Museum and the Wyoming State Arts Council.

Pacific Coast Conservation will examine, perform maintenance, and write long-term care plans for over 25 outdoor artworks in 12 Wyoming communities. This project is supported in part by a grant from the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund, a program of the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, with additional funding from the Wyoming Arts Council.

The project's artwork includes the Spirit of Wyoming at the State Capitol, the Seventh Sense in Casper, Order/Disorder in Douglas, Serenity in Evanston, the Gift of the Smoking Waters in Thermopolis, and many more.

Jennifer Alexander, Supervisor of Collections for the Wyoming State Museum, notes, "The State Museum is very pleased to be able to oversee the care for these unique historic artworks around the state to ensure that these sculptures will last as long as possible for public enjoyment."

The conservation efforts demonstrate the Wyoming State Museum and its partners' commitment to preserving the state's artistic heritage and enhancing public appreciation for the visual arts.

For more information on the conservation project, visit wyomuseum.wyo.gov or contact the Wyoming State Museum directly.

Contact: Jennifer Alexander, 307-214-5890; jennifer.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

12 May 2025

Wyoming State Museum Presents Painting with Paper Exhibit Opening Reception

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

Wyoming State Museum Presents Painting with Paper Exhibit Opening Reception

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — May 12, 2025 — The Wyoming State Museum invites the public to an opening reception for Painting with Paper, an exhibition showcasing the artwork of eight artists who completed the museum's 2025 Creative Aging course.

The reception will be held on Thursday, May 15, at 5:30 p.m. Painting with Paper features two pieces from each artist: one depicting flowers and the other birds. These vibrant collages were created using hand-painted papers from an 8-week Creative Aging course. Representatives from the Wyoming State Museum, the Wyoming Arts Council, the course instructor, Cathy Barnes, and student artists will share remarks.

Creative Aging, developed by Lifetime Arts, is designed for older adults seeking lifelong learning opportunities. It emphasizes participatory, sequential, and socially engaging experiences. Cathy Barnes, a professional artist with extensive teaching experience, led the course.

The Creative Aging initiative is made possible by a grant provided by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies in partnership with E.A. Michelson Philanthropy, through the Wyoming Arts Council, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Wyoming Legislature.

The Wyoming State Museum is located at 2301 Central Ave. Fans can follow the museum's Facebook and Instagram accounts at @wyomingstatemuseum to stay informed about upcoming Family Days, exhibits, and special events, or by visiting wyomuseum.wyo.gov to learn more.

Painting with Paper Invitation Graphic.png

Image: Painting with Paper Invitation Graphic

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

06 May 2025

Wyoming State Museum to Welcome Back Wyoming's Liberty Bell

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Contact: Kevin Ramler, 307-286-5952; kevin.ramler@wyo.gov

Wyoming State Museum to Welcome Back Wyoming's Liberty Bell

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – May 6, 2025 – On May 7, Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources will proudly reintroduce Wyoming's Liberty Bell at the Wyoming State Museum, marking an important step in celebrating American history.

"This project is part of a broader initiative by Governor Mark Gordon's Semiquincentennial Planning Task Force to honor and showcase our nation's rich history and Wyoming's contributions to it," said Nick Neylon, deputy director of Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources. "Restoring the Wyoming Liberty Bell for public display symbolizes an exciting kickoff for many projects and activities being planned across the state to celebrate our nation's heritage as we approach America’s 250th anniversary."

Tradition holds that America's Liberty Bell rang out on July 8, 1776, to summon the citizens of Philadelphia to hear the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. Originally cast in 1751, the bell bearing the inscription from Leviticus, "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof," has held different meanings throughout US History. The bell was first called "The Liberty Bell" by abolitionists in their initial attempts to end slavery.

Although it is unclear when a crack first appeared in the Liberty Bell, the crack that rendered it mute occurred when a repair failed after it was rung to commemorate the birthday of the late President George Washington on February 23, 1846.

After America's Civil War, the one-ton bell was toured across the country, hoping to unite citizens of a broadly divided nation and remind them of a time when Americans fought together to secure their rights.

During the Truman administration in the 1950s, copies of the Liberty Bell were made and given to each state as an inspirational symbol of the United States Savings Bond Independence Drive. These bells were identical in dimension to the original bell, but the iconic crack on the bell was painted onto the copies. After being presented with its replica, Wyoming kept its Liberty Bell on display at the grounds of Wyoming's State Capitol Building until 2018, when it was placed in storage due to renovations.

"It is a tangible reminder of our shared heritage as Americans and the rights and duties we have the obligation to maintain," says Kevin Ramler, director of the Wyoming State Museum. "We are excited for it to be shared with the public again outside of the Wyoming State Museum before it is eventually placed in a more permanent home within the Capitol Complex."

To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, Governor Gordon established the Wyoming Semiquincentennial Planning Task Force. This group will develop and coordinate events and activities to celebrate this milestone. You can learn more about the Task Force and available grants at wyoming250.com.

Wyoming's Liberty Bell will be displayed in front of the Wyoming State Museum at 2301 Central Ave in Cheyenne. All are invited to visit and see this iconic piece of American history.

The Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources (SPCR) aims to provide memorable recreational, cultural, and educational experiences that improve communities and enrich lives. For more information about SPCR, visit wyospcr.wyo.gov.

For more information about the Wyoming Liberty Bell, please contact the Wyoming State Museum at 307-777-7022. You can also learn more about the Museum at wyomuseum.wyo.gov.

Figure 1: This photo, taken by Francis Brammar in 1950, is from the Wyoming State Archives (WSA) and captioned "Dedication of the replica Liberty Bell in front of the Wyoming State Capitol Building." WSA is also a program under the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources.

Contact: Kevin Ramler, 307-286-5952; kevin.ramler@wyo.gov

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