A rough road, death of a tribal leader and Native American Heritage Month

This month we feature a pre-railroad thoroughfare and an unsolved crime.

A long, dry road

A major route for emigrants, freighters, the military, stagecoaches and mail, the Overland Trail across present southern Wyoming saw heavy traffic in the 1850s and 1860s. At different stations along the way, coach drivers obtained fresh horses, the wives of station masters fed dusty travelers and soldiers fought attacking warriors. Read more in David Johnson’s article, “The Overland Trail in Wyoming.”

Clubbed to death on the reservation

On the evening of Jan. 11, 1907, Eastern Shoshone Tribal Councilman George Terry was murdered after leaving a council meeting. Was it a crime of passion, perhaps revenge for mistreating his wife Kate Enos? Or was it an assassination, retribution for backing the selloff of half the reservation’s tribal lands? Read more in Dick Blust’s article, “Three Photos, a Murder and a Murky Outcome: Troubled Times on Wind River.”

Calendar Events

Native American Heritage Month
November, coinciding with Thanksgiving, is Native American Heritage Month.
 
On WyoHistory.org, see our landing page, Indigenous People in Wyoming and the West.   In 2017 Gov. Matt Mead signed a new law directing public schools to offer more about the history and culture of the Eastern ShoshoneNorthern Arapaho and other tribes of the region.  With the help of scholars, tribal elders and educators on the Wind River Indian Reservation we began adding to our content about American Indians, and educators on the reservation helped us develop classroom toolkits of Wyoming history.  These efforts were made possible with generous support from the Wyoming Humanities Council, the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund, the Ellbogen Family Foundation, Wyoming school districts and the tribal members who consulted on the content.

Museum at the Bighorns, Sheridan, Wyo.
Edward Gillette: A New Englander Comes West
Thursday, Nov. 10, 6:00 p.m. 
The museum’s collections manager, Jessica Salzman, will give the History After Dark lecture on railroad pioneer Edward Gillette. Learn how he left his mark on Sheridan’s history and how the city of Gillette got its name. The event is free to museum members, $5 for non-members.
 
Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody, Wyo.
Old Timers and Early Day Women
Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
For this talk, Bob Richard welcomes special guests Al and Pete Simpson, who help him share great stories and photographs about Old Timers and Early Day Women of the Cody area. For more information, click here.
 
Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum, Jackson, Wyo.
Special exhibit: William Henry Jackson, Pioneer Photographer, on view through March 2023 in our Community Co-op Corner.
 
The exhibit “Wyoming Women” from the University of Wyoming’s American Heritage Center highlights 30 framed historical photos of Wyoming women in leadership roles in the outdoors and their communities.
 
For other information on these two exhibits, click here. Then scroll down.
 
Laramie Plains Museum, Laramie, Wyo.
Tours available, approximately one hour long, starting at 1:00 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays. Each day’s last tour must start before 3:00 p.m. For more information, click here.
 
Wyoming State Museum, Cheyenne, Wyo.
On-grounds field trips for school groups:
North American Bison Culture
Mountain Men and the Beaver
Travel the Oregon Trail
For more information, click here, and to book a field trip, click here.
 
National Museum of Military Vehicles, Dubois, Wyo.
For the current tour schedule, click here.
 
Wyoming State Archives, Cheyenne, Wyo.
Firearms of the Wyoming State Museum
Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Evan Green shares some of the fascinating stories he has uncovered while researching the firearms in the Wyoming State Museum's collection. To register for the live event, and for more information on the virtual and live events, click here.
 
Wyoming Veterans Memorial Museum, Casper, Wyo.
Family Fun Day, Veterans Day History
Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Learn about Veterans Day and the history behind the "Buddy Poppy." For more information, click here.
 
Washakie Museum and Cultural Center, Worland, Wyo.
Wyoming Energy: Oil and Gas in the Big Horn Basin
Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m
Native Worlander Mark R. Hamilton presents the history of the oil and gas industries in Wyoming. For more information, click here.