about us
preserving Sheridan’s place in the west
We are The Museum At The Bighorns
01. Our mission
Preserve our local history and keep it accessible to the Sheridan community, tourists and visitors.
02. Our vision
Grow our collection space and create more dynamic experiences for Museum visitors.
Become a larger repository for repository for historic documents, photographs and artifacts.
03. our goals
Build relationships with donors that support our mission and vision.
Partner with area businesses and organizations to share the stories of Sheridan County.
Our History
The Museum at the Bighorns is overseen by the Sheridan County Historical Society (SCHS), an affiliate of the Wyoming State Historical Society. The SCHS was formed in the 1960's as a means of preserving Sheridan County’s past.
The SCHS faced its first major opportunity in the 1970's. The John B. Kendrick mansion was scheduled for demolition. By purchasing the home, the SCHS would be able to run and maintain it. With assistance from the State of Wyoming, the home was eventually preserved and is now the popular attraction, the Trail End Historic Site. The SCHS gifted the building, grounds, and their Kendrick collection to the state in the 1980's.
In 2002, the SCHS hired a professional museum curator to catalog, assess, and improve the preservation of our collection. In 2003, the Sheridan Chapter hosted the Wyoming State Historical Society Trek and we were recognized as the outstanding chapter that year. Gaining more community support for our efforts in 2004, the collection was moved to a small house on Alger Avenue. It was there that the SCHS presented its first season’s exhibits. We also began the Sheridan County Memory Book Project. With the collection now under professional care, more artifact donations found their way to the little museum and more of our local history was preserved.
As the collection grew, the little museum on Alger Avenue became too small. In 2005, the SCHS began searching for a new location. In only four months, and with much community support, the SCHS raised over $1 million in donations and pledges to purchase our current building. About nine months later, the doors of the new Sheridan County Museum opened on July 1st, 2006.
Beginning in 2019, the SCHS Board of Directors began the process of rebranding the museum. With an expansive collection of 30,000+ items, the name, Sheridan County Museum, was no longer a good fit. In an effort to better represent the collection, the history we share, and acknowledge that history doesn’t stop at the border, the museum was renamed the Museum At The Bighorns.
meet Our team
Mikayla Larrow
Christopher Sherwood
Carol Watkins
Edre MaIer
Becky Cummings
Thane Magelky
Laurie Bratten
Pam Sajec
Jessica Knight
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What they Say
“What a great little museum! So much history shared in a a neat flow. The staff was awesome as well. Definitely worth the stop!."
“Great starting place for connecting with local history. Our area is rich in history, and the Sheridan County Museum is very conveniently located just West of I-90 exit #23. Plenty to see, and they will help you find more about what interests you.”
“They have the display of Sheridan Beer look very nice. It's been a pleasure working with them. Thanks for doing Sheridan Beer!!”
“Fantastic Exhibits! Really enjoyed the redesigned Museum. Exhibits are new and include WYO rodeo, Crow Nation and Sheridan Beer.”
“I had a great time learning about the area. I was intreged with the history of the area. I didn't realize coal was such a big part of the areas history. Liked the Indian battle panaramic. I spent 2 hrs there but it can be toured in about an hour if you don't have to many interests in the area.”
“Out with friends. Enjoyed seeing the museum and the conference meet and greet on the deck. Beautiful view of the mountains.”
