The Kaycee Lions Club recently commissioned a monument recognizing all the Kaycee area Vietnam veterans. The museum is pleased that it will be installed on our property in a location that visitors can access year-round. The museum is partnering with the Kaycee Lions Club, Kaycee High School, and the American Legion Auxiliary of Kaycee to dedicate the monument and honor local veterans on Veteran’s Day. 2024.
Thank you to all those who attended our Bozeman Trail of Powder River Tour on September 14th. Thank you to all the volunteers, especially the Fort Phil Kearney Regulars for their excellent living history presentation during lunch. It was a great day!
Thank you everyone who attended our annual Hole in the Wall tour and all the volunteers and landowners who made the day possible. Thank you!
We are grateful for all the support at the Powder River Western Art Show on July 15th. There were some amazing artists. Thank you everyone!
The museum opened on May 15th. Our hours are Monday through Saturday from 9:00-5:00 and Sundays from 1:00-5:00. We have added new collection items and interpretive signage and have many new and fascinating items from the recent archeology work at the Portuguese Fort site. Hope to see you soon!
The 2024 Powder River Western Art Show will be held on June 15, 2024 during the Chris Ledoux Rodeo Day. Great local western artists will be showcasing and selling their work at the museum all day from 9-5. Enjoy the excellent rodeo, but stop in before and after to see great western art, leather crafts, jewelry, houseware, and more. We will be raffling off this watercolor by local artist Will Berg titled “Steamboat Horses.”
T
hank you everyone for attending Dr. Newton’s presentation on the archeology of the Portuguese Fort! We had a great turn out and enjoyed visiting with so many.
Thank you to all the volunteers that worked at the site preserving the history, and the landowner, to make all of this possible.
Thank you also for your great patience and kindness as we resolved our technical difficulties. We want to offer a special thank you to Victoria Davis, for technical assistance, and Nancy Tabb and Bonnie Ross for a loaner projector.
Thank you volunteers and helpers: Nancy Elm, Dwayne Christensen, Darcy DeLapp, Nolan Davis, Dick Gould, and Jeanie Tinnin for all the help that day and any volunteers we missed.
What a fantastic group of people!
Archeologist Cody Newton will be presenting the history and archeology of the Portuguese Fort site using artifacts from the site, including recent excavations, on March 10 at 1:00 at the Harold Jarrard Park Building in Kaycee.
Fort Antonio, known locally as the Portuguese Houses, was built in 1834 east of Kaycee as a fur trading post by independent trapper Antonio Montero from Portugal. The fort experienced a series of difficulties: attacks by Blackfeet, competition from Jim Bridger’s fur company, theft, and legal challenges from government bureaucrats. However, it was the demise of the beaver and the fall in demand for its felt that dealt the final blow. The fort was abandoned in 1840, and the fur trade had collapsed by then.
However, many items were left behind which tell a detailed story of how fort residents worked and lived. Dr. Newton will reveal its fascinating secrets and these new additions to the museum collection.
Coffee and cookies will be served.
The 2023 Rifle Raffle Fundraiser winner was drawn at our December monthly meeting and the winner was Hal Norvell of Ballantine, Montana. Thank you to all those who bought tickets, and everyone who sold them for us: The Kaycee Sinclair, Kaycee General Store, Invasion Bar and Restaurant, Cassidy Inn, Country Inn, and Chicken Coop. We also would like to thank the Sports Lure for help purchasing the rifle. We are grateful for the support!
On November 12th the museum held a successful open house with many visitors. We sold some great Christmas gifts from our gift shop and enjoyed seeing our friends and supporters. Thank you for all the support!
