Carbon County Museum Index

We are committed to Carbon County History which includes: Permanent collection on the Union Pacific Railroad, pioneers, residents and outlaws, Native Americans, agriculture, the only Thomas Edison exhibit in Wyoming and much more!

Visit us June through September,
Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturdays, 1 - 5 p.m.
October through May, Tuesday through Saturday 1 - 5 p.m.
or by appointment

We are planning to build a new museum in Rawlins.
Click on the "New Museum Facility" link to learn more about the new museum
and to find out how you can donate to help us.

The Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund has awarded $6,743.00 to support the Rans Baker Project. The first part of the two-fold project will support capturing the unique voice of County Historian Emeritus Rans Baker in conjunction with the exhibition themes at the Carbon County Museum. Baker won the Wyoming State Historical Society Mabel Brown award for Lifetime Achievement for his long-time diligent and exacting Candy Moulton, noted author, historian, and film producer will develop a script with Mr. Baker focusing on the important themes of our region. Some of these themes are the emigrant trails, the ranching history, inventions and patents and Thomas Edison's visit, among many. The project has been in the planning and discussion phase for two years. The second part of the project will pay for week long intensive grant writing training for the Museum Director, Denise Patton, in order to raise funds for exhibitions components utilizing this material at a new museum being planned. The training will also have a positive effect on the County Museum and County Museum Foundation capacity for sustainable program support through endowment, capital, and annual giving. The Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund is a program of the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources.

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation has pledged $2,000 to the Carbon County Museum Foundation for 2009. The Museum plans to acknowledge Anadarko’s commitment to the community at their annual Gala in October. The Museum is continually seeking funds through a strategic mix of corporations, foundations, government, and individuals for the new museum building, endowment, events/education, and exhibits. If anyone is interested in donating or learning more about the Museum, call 307-328-2740 and ask for Denise or Jacqueline.

The Carbon County Museum was recently awarded $2,928.00 through the Wyoming Arts Council Technology in the Arts Program which will be used for a new computer and printer. Heidi Boyd, the Museum Exhibits/Events Assistant, plans to use the computer to build multi-disciplinary exhibitions and events programming. It will also be used to train other employees on software programs. The entire community, surrounding region, and visitors to the Museum will benefit from the cultural programs. Temporary and changing exhibitions and cultural programs here are a vital component of the organization to maintain and develop local and regional visitorship to enhance informal learning opportunities and family social interaction, which is the primary reason people visit museums, according to industry data. Educational programs will help students learn subjects that aren’t covered in school. Experiential lessons will also be created for the Museum’s authentic one-room schoolhouse.

This project is supported in part by a grant from the Wyoming Arts Council through funding from the Wyoming State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

The Carbon County Museum was recently awarded 3 grants from the Carbon County Visitor’s Council, Wyoming Humanities Council (WHC), and the Wyoming State Historical Records Advisory Board (SHRAB). The $4,000 award from the Carbon County Visitor’s Council will be applied to advertising out-of-county to attract more visitors to the Museum and the County as a whole.

A $1,500 grant award from the Wyoming Humanities Council and $1,000 grant from the Wyoming State Historical Records Advisory Board will fund Past Perfect training for Museum staff, volunteers, and colleagues. Past Perfect is a software program that works as a finding aid and cataloguing tool for collections including library archives, objects, and photographs. The three day hands-on training will be held at a Carbon County Higher Education classroom and hosted by the Museum. The Museum is issuing invitations to non-profit institutions that would like to participate at no charge. The Little Snake River Museum, Wyoming Frontier Prison, Centennial Museum, Dubois Museum, and the recently reopened Fremont County Museum have all expressed interest in training through Peggy Shaller, of Collectors Research for Museums.

“This project is funded by the We the People initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities.” "Supported in part by an award from the Wyoming State Historical Records Advisory Board, through funding from the National Historical Publications and Records