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Images of
America:
Green River |
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A 125 page pictorial history
which features photos from the
Sweetwater County Museum collection as well as other private and public collections.
Now available at the
Museum Store for $19.95 |
Nestled in a valley at the confluence of the Green River and Bitter
Creek, the town of Green River is situated among some of the most famous
and beautiful rock formations in the West. This stunning backdrop was
the jumping-off point for John Wesley Powell’s famous river
explorations. The city’s story is intertwined with the arteries of
westward expansion. The Colorado River system, the Cherokee and Overland
Trails, the Union Pacific Railroad, the Lincoln Highway, the interstate
highway system, and even America’s first intergalactic Space Ports are
all part of the story of Green River. After its humble start as an
Overland Trail stage station, the town grew in anticipation of the
arrival of the transcontinental railroad and eventually became the
Sweetwater County seat. The Green River, ranching, recreation, and the
chemical industry also play a part in the town’s history.”
authors:
Terry Del Bene,
Ruth Lauritzen,
Cyndi McCullers,
and the Sweetwater County Historical Museum |
See our John Wesley
Powell Statue
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Visit our
Bookstore
Online.
We have maps and travel guides,
historical books, coloring books, geology books,
books on the old west, and Union Pacific logo items
and more. We have something for everyone!
We now accept VISA.
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| Discover the rich cultural heritage of southwestern Wyoming at
the Sweetwater County Historical Museum. Established in 1967 to
preserve the history of Sweetwater County, the museum contains
permanent and temporary exhibits, a large historical photograph
collection, and local history research material.
 click to see large map
Sweetwater County's history began long before written records. In
prehistoric times the landscape was swampy and inhabited by great
dinosaurs. Thousands of years later Native Americans, mostly
Shoshone and Ute, claimed the land. The first white men moving
through the area with any regularity were the mountain men. The
first Rocky Mountain Rendezvous was held in 1825 in Sweetwater
County, as was a later gathering in 1834 which is said to have been
the largest rendezvous ever.
Several major emigrant trails passed through the county including
the Oregon, California, Mormon, Overland, and Cherokee Trails, as
well as the 1861 transcontinental telegraph line and Ben Holladay's
Central Overland Express stage line. Vitally important to the
history of the county was the coming of the transcontinental
railroad in 1868. This was instrumental in the creation and
development of Sweetwater County's two major population centers,
Green River and Rock Springs. Green River was the major railroad
town due to the nearness of a water supply, while Rock Springs
became the coal mining center of the county.
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Our Mission
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The
mission of the Sweetwater County
Historical Museum is to
preserve and present the story of
Sweetwater County from its
early beginnings to the present, to
serve as a depository for historical items and records and to
serve as an educational and informational center for children
and adults.
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Sweetwater County Historical
Museum
3 East Flaming Gorge Way
Green River, Wyoming 82935
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Hours:
Monday-Saturday 10 am - 6 pm
Free Admission |
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To contact us:
(307) 872-6435
(307) 352-6715
(307) 872-3234 fax
email: swchm@sweetwater.net
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 visitors have enjoyed our museum online.
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