Facilities
The Wind River Historical Center
The center consists of a central exhibit building and six original
outbuildings. The latter include: the first Dubois High School,
a Forest Service Ranger Station, Homestead Cabin, Maxwells
Saddle Shop, Cowboy Bunkhouse, and an original post office building
from the Dunoir tie-camp.
The
main building features archaeology exhibits devoted to the Mountain
Shoshone or Sheep Eater. The Sheep Eaters were the original
inhabitants of the high altitude region of the Greater Yellowstone
ecosystem, defined by the intersection of northwestern Wyoming,
southern Montana, and eastern Idaho. These exhibits include a collection
of bowls and other vessels made from soft soapstone or talc, also
known as steatite. This stone was quarried in the Wind River Mountains.
The museum also has a display explaining the manufacture and use
of the Sheep Eater hunting bow fashioned from the horns of the big
horn ram. A series of eco-murals, illustrates the ecology
of the local alpine, sub-alpine, and montane habitats.
The Lucius Burch Center for Western Tradition
The Lucius Burch Center serves as a partner for the Wind River
Historical Center. It helps raise funds to support its exhibits
on the Mountain Shoshone and by sponsoring educational programs
on regional history. The
historic Dennison Lodge serves as the headquarters of the Lucius
Burch Center. The building, originally located on Bear Creek in
the East Fork Valley, was the centerpiece of a local dude ranch.
The Dennison Lodge may be rented for social or educational gatherings
for groups of 100 or sit-down meals for up to 48. Contact
Judith Bendel, Administrative Assistant at (307) 455-2284 for details.
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