Hoofprints of the Past Museum

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Revised and Expanded “Kaycee: A Photo History” on Sale Now

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Recently the museum greatly revised and expanded the museum produced book “Kaycee: A Photo History” and it is now available to purchase at the museum. There are almost twenty additional pages from the 2013 printing, additional historical topics, and many more photos, including a previously unknown Nate Champion photo. The book is an essential addition to any local history book collection and makes a great gift for family members and visitors.

You may purchase the books at the museum, by phone (307-738-2381) or on our website at www.hoofprintsofthepast.org

Another book will be released by the museum soon, and it is comprised of the many historical interviews done by the Kaycee Community Voice and written by Ginger Curuchet.

Few Spots Remain on Sussex Tour- September 7th

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Moreton Frewen named the location of his 76 Ranch headquarters on the Powder River Sussex after his home county in England. But decades before Frewen marked the beginning of the Cattle Boom in Wyoming, the Sussex area East of Kaycee was the stage where early explorers, travelers, trappers, the US military, and even missionaries played their part in Western expansion. The fascinating and little known history of these people and events will shared by knowledgeable local historians as you travel by bus Eastward from Kaycee through the Powder River Country.

Famous sites and events explored on this guided historical tour include:

  • Portuguese Fort of Antonio Montero
  • German Lutheran Mission Station
  • Bozeman Trail
  • Townsend Fight
  • Cantonment Reno and Fort Reno
  • Frewen Castle of 76 Ranch Headquarters
  • Homestead Sites and Community Sites

Tour begins at 9:00 a.m. at the museum and pre-registration is required. Cost is $55 and includes lunch. Please contact the museum to register, 307-738-2381 or www.hoofprintsofthepast.org

Fort, Fights and Frontier Sites Tour

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In 1878 English cattleman Moreton Frewen named the area on Powder River where he located his 76 Ranch headquarters “Sussex” after his home county in England. But decades before Frewen marked the beginning of the Cattle Boom in Wyoming, the Sussex area East of Kaycee was the stage where early explorers, travelers, trappers, the US military, and even missionaries played their part in Western expansion.

The fascinating and little known history of these people and events will shared by knowledgeable local historians as you travel by bus eastward from Kaycee through the Powder River Country. Tour will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2019 and the deadline to register is September 1st.

Some of the famous sites and events explored on this guided historical tour include:

  • 1836 Portuguese Fort of Antonio Montero, trapper
  • German Lutheran Mission Station where missionaries attempted to minister to natives
  • The Bozeman Trail
  • The Townsend Wagon Train Fight along the Bozeman Trail
  • US Military Cantonment Reno and Fort Reno sites
  • Cattle Baron Moreton Frewen’s “Castle” site at 76 Ranch Headquarters
  • Notable Homestead Sites and Community Sites

Tour Cost is $55 per person, which includes lunch at Fort Reno, and begins in Kaycee at 9:00 AM. Registration is required in advance and space is limited on the bus, so sign up early.

Overlooking the Townsend Wagon Train Fight in beautiful Powder River Country East of Kaycee.

To register, click http://hoofprintsofthepast.org/product/forts-fights-and-frontier-sites-tour/

If you cannot make this year’s tour date, and would like to be notified of the 2020 Sussex Tour date, please click http://hoofprintsofthepast.org/tour-information/

Bison Hunting in Hole-in-the-Wall Country: Results of the Wold Bison Jump Excavation

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Hoofprints of the Past Museum is pleased to have  Spencer R. Pelton  present Bison Hunting in Hole-in-the-Wall Country: Results of the Wold Bison Jump

This presentation provides an overview of prehistoric bison hunting on the northern Plains, reconstructs the events that occurred at the Wold Bison Jump, and then contextualizes those events relative to other bison jumps across the Plains.

Driving bison off cliffs during large scale hunts (or “bison jumping”) was a widespread practice among Native Americans living on the northern Plains of Montana, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, but less so among groups living in Wyoming. In fact, the Wold Bison Jump, located on the Hole in the Wall Ranch west of Kaycee, WY, is one of a very few number of bison jumps in Wyoming. The University of Wyoming conducted research at this bison jump in 2013 and 2014, finding evidence for a single, rather catastrophic bison jump event and potentially tying the jump to the ancestral Crow.

Spencer Pelton received his PhD from the University of Wyoming in 2018. He has worked on archaeological sites in Wyoming for the past six years, most recently at the Powars II Paleoindian ocher quarry, the La Prele Clovis site, and the Sisters Hill Paleoindian site. Spencer lives in Douglas, WY with his wife Hallie and their dog Cashew, where he works for Transcon Environmental as a senior archaeologist.

At 1:30 before the presentation the Hoofprints of the Past Museum Board will hold a brief meeting and annual report on the museum’s 2018 activities.  Coffee and cookies will be served.

2019 Tour Dates Announced

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The annual Hole in the Wall Tour will be held on June 22nd of this year. The tour stops at numerous sites related to the Hole in the Wall gang and its activities, including the famed and beautiful Hole in the Wall. The tour is an important fundraiser for the museum and is a very enjoyable day in a beautiful area.

The Johnson County War Tour will be held on August 17th of this year. This tour chronicles the fascinating background leading up to the war and the infamous invasion on April 6, 1892 as it retraces related historic sites and the approximate route of the Invaders.  The tour is also a fundraiser for the museum.

If you are interested in either of these tours, please visit our tours page for more information or to register. Space is limited so registration in advance is required. http://hoofprintsofthepast.org/category/tours/

Museum Donors for 2019 preservation project Needed

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Hoofprints of the Past Museum working diligently to preserve our buildings. A  project for 2019 we are working to complete is adding soffits to the north side of the building. This will ensure our buildings will last for years to come by protecting our roof from damage.  If you are willing to help with this museum need, your donation would be greatly appreciated.

Click on the link below to Donate now!

Membership & Support

New Displays at the Museum

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Have you visited the museum recently? If not, you may want to stop by soon and see the new collections and displays added at the museum. One of the more significant items is the Al Smith pistol, shot from his hand in the Hole in the Wall Fight in 1897. The museum will also be premiering a new rotating annual display on a local person or family in June. This year’s featured individual is Sandy Dixon and the museum has been working with Sandy’s friends and family to create a display that highlights the amazing person and life of Sandy with various items and artifacts from her collection.

Museum Open for Season on May 15th, 2018

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The museum will officially re-open for the 2018 season on May 15th this year. Our hours will be Monday-Saturday from 9-5 and Sundays from 1-5. We will have new displays and collection items, so we hope you will stop by and visit.

Historical Guns of the Old West

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On February 11 at 2:00 at the Harold Jarrard Park in Kaycee, historian and gun collector Joe Hickey will be speaking on historical guns of the Old West. Hickey will tell the story of various western weapons by weaving together the related famous Western individuals and events of the period. Joe has guns used by Butch Cassidy, Tom Horn, and many others. He is a fascinating speaker and makes it fun even for people who do not know very much about guns.

Fundraising Rifle Raffle for Museum

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The museum is selling raffle tickets again, and we would like to thank everyone who is helping. Thank you to our sponsors, the Kaycee General Store and the Kaycee Sinclair as well as the Sports Lure. Thank you to all of the local vendors and individuals who are selling tickets for us: The Invasion Bar and Restaurant, The Cassidy Inn, KC RV Park, The Kaycee General Store, and the Kaycee Sinclair. This is an important fundraiser for the museum so thank you for the support!