A Historical Treat

Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit the Elk Mountain Museum in Elk Mountain, Wyoming. For such a small space, the collection is remarkably impressive. Angie, the museum director, kindly gave me a private tour, as the museum had not yet opened for the season. The town itself is a quiet little hamlet with a population of about 150. It began as a stagecoach stop along the Overland Trail, where the road crossed the Medicine Bow River.

I enjoyed learning about the early immigrant settlers from Scandinavia and other parts of Europe who established ranches in the area—one of those families still resides there several generations later. I was especially intrigued by the history of the tie hacks—strong Scandinavian men who felled trees in the nearby forests and hewed them into railroad ties by hand, then floated them downriver to support the expanding railroad. One of the museum’s main attractions is a beautifully crafted weaving loom donated by a family of Scandinavian descent. The craftsmanship is exquisite. A display of vintage accordions brings to mind the lively strains of Scandinavian polka music. A fully restored sheep wagon tells the story of sheep herding in the valley. There are also colorful posters from the Garden Spot Pavilion, which once hosted legendary performers like Louis Armstrong, Harry James, and Tommy Dorsey.

If you’re driving across Wyoming on I-80 and thinking there’s nothing to see, take a short detour to Elk Mountain. And don’t forget to ask the museum staff to show you the human skeleton that once belonged to the local fraternal organization!

I don’t have ancestors from Elk Mountain, but for those who do, the museum director may be able to help fill in the details of your family’s history in the area.