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!
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.
On F
ebruary 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.
On August 19th the museum held its annual Johnson County War Tour beginning in Kaycee at the museum. The tour was completely full, with 45 attendees traveling by bus the approximate route of the Invaders in April of 1892 and stopping at the Tisdale and Jones Assassination sites. John W. Davis, author of Wyoming Range War, and Brock Hanson were tour historical guides and speakers with John presenting additional background information at the conclusion of the tour at the museum. 
In 2009 the museum released its perpetual calendar with a variety of true short stories and accounts from many local individuals. Sandy Dixon and Ginger Curuchet had gathered many of thes
e stories to help create the calendar. John Hanson was interested in putting all these stories into a short book for sale at the museum, and worked with Sandy Dixon to do so this spring. John paid the cost of printing the book as a donation to the museum, and the book is now for sale at the museum. It is a great little book with interesting tidbits from our history and all sales will help support the museum.
Thank you John and Sandy for your hard work on this project!
The Hoofprints of the Past Museum was pleased to have John W. Davis, author of the recently released book “The Trial of Tom Horn” discuss his new book at the museum. Participants enjoyed Davis’ unique legal perspective on the famous Wyoming trial and its fascinating subject, Tom Horn. We appreciate the time Mr. Davis spent with us sharing his excellent and well researched book.
If you missed the presentation and are interested in purchasing this book, please contact the museum.
John Tinnin is a regular face around the museum. With a number of old buildings to maintain and new improvements and projects on the
John Tinnin prepares to stain the building
property, his carpenter skills have been an invaluable contribution to the museum. From chinking to staining, landscaping to minor repairs or even building display cases, John is performing important work at the museum. In addition, his work is impeccable. He recently constructed a trash enclosure, for which he donated the materials and labor. There have been a number of volunteer carpenters over the years at the museum, such as Jiggs James, Chuck Taffner and too many others to name, but John will take his place beside them in the Hall of Hoofprints Carpentry Fame. Thank you John!
The Museum held a pre-opening open house on May 29th to share recently completed new displays. With the addition of two tall wood and glass cases, constructed by John Tinnin, the museum was able to reorganize and rearrange existing displays to better display items in the collection. Recently received new artifacts and display signage were added, while existing collection items were rearranged more precisely by topic and historical chronology. New sections/displays on the the Bozeman Trail and Fort Reno were created, and old displays on the Outlaws and Johnson County War were expanded with some great new items added to the collection.
We still have room for some very special historical items, and are particularly looking for anything connected with local outlaws, the Bozeman Trail, the Townsend Fight, local trappers, other local early individuals and participants in the Johnson County War. Please contact the museum if you would like to discuss placing an artifact on loan to the museum.
If you were unable to make the open house during this very busy time of year, we hope you will still stop by sometime soon. Our hours are Monday through Saturday from 9:00-5:00, and Sundays from 1:00-5:00.
We would like to thank the Johnson County Recreation District for assisting with the cost of the cases.
The 2016 Hole in the Wall Tour held on June 11th was another successful fundraiser and an enjoyable day spent in the Hole in the Wall country. We could not do it without the support of so many, and would like to thank the following speakers, volunteers, and landowners for making the tour possible:
Mark Moore spoke about his ancestor Lee Moore, to a group of about 40 attendees at the museum on February 21st. The talk was well enjoyed by the group, as Lee Moore led a fascinating life in historic times. We will be sharing more about Lee Moore a future museum display and museum newsletter.
