Past Events

Students attend museum course in civics, government, the Constitution, and writing with quill pens

Photo #1 - Hands-on exercises with quill and metal-nibbed pens was part of a special

course for students hosted by the Sweetwater County Historical Museum in Green River

Photo #2 - A freshly-prepared quill pen, ready for use

Photo #3 - Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence with a quill pen. A prodigious writer, Jefferson bred special white geese at his home in Monticello for their quills.

(Sweetwater County, Wyo. - March 3, 2023)     Eighteen home school students learned about civics, government, and the Wyoming and U.S. Constitutions at the Sweetwater County Historical Museum this week. Public Engagement Coordinator Aidan Brady taught the special class, which included hands-on writing exercises with real feathered quill pens, metal-nibbed pens, and blueberry-based ink. The students learned that the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were written with quill pens.

The use of quill pens goes back to the 7^th century or even earlier. The best quality quills were made from the first five flight feathers from the left wing of molting birds, including geese, turkeys, and hawks, with goose quills favored over those of other species due to their large size and durability.  (Quills from the left wing were desirable because they curved outwards, away from the writer. Left-handed writers preferred quills from the right wing.)

Quill pens work because the shaft of a flight feather is long and hollow. Once a quill has been properly prepared and its tip fashioned into a nib with small, sharp knife or other cutting tool, it is ready for use. The quill is dipped into an ink bottle, and the hollow shaft of the feather functions as an ink reservoir. As the user writes, the ink flows to the tip by capillary action. The quill has to be re-dipped repeatedly as the user continues to write. Learning to use a quill pen takes patience and practice, as it requires a much lighter touch than using a ball-point pen. (Small knives used to prepare quills were called “pen knives,” and the name stuck even after quill pens began to be replaced by metal-nibbed pens in the 1820s.)

Preparing a quill pen for use is not a simple process. The procedure is well-explained (and illustrated) on the website of the Jane Austen Centre in the United Kingdom at

https://janeausten.co.uk/blogs/home-and-hearth/cutting-a-quill-pen?currency=usd .

Educators, parents, and parent-teacher groups who are interested in learning more about museum programs for students Grades K - 12 are encouraged to contact Brady at (307) 872-6435 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

County Museum hosts a holiday appreciation dinner

Photo #1 - Executive Director Dave Mead, at right, speaking at the County Museum’s holiday appreciation dinner.

(Sweetwater County, Wyo. - December 14, 2022)     The Sweetwater County Historical Museum recently hosted a holiday “thank you” dinner at the Hitching Post in Green River for its volunteers, board members, and former board members

“Our volunteers and board members provide invaluable services and support we simply could not function without,” said Executive Director Dave Mead. “One volunteer, for instance, has scanned over 8,000 historical photographs in our collection. Others help with creating exhibits and special presentations. Every spring  we stage our History Fair, which is attended by 700 to 800 3^rd Grade students from throughout the county. That requires a dozen volunteers doing presentations every day for nearly a week, and another friend of the museum, Bill Taliaferro, loans his sheep camp. We’re very grateful for everything these fine people do for us, and for the time and hard work our board members provide.”

Deer Trail Assisted Living Visit

Adobe Brick Making Class

Due to limited space we require an RSVP so please call us to register in advance. Please contact us at 307-872-6435 to register or with any questions. Our classes are free and last about 2 hours. All of the classes begin at 10 am and all supplies are provided.

Adobe Brick Making has been moved to July 27th, 2022.  Join us to make mini adobe bricks and learn more about this historic building material.