(Sweetwater County, Wyo. - May 7, 2021)     In the spring of 1869, John Wesley Powell launched his first epic expedition to explore the Green River, Colorado River, and the Grand Canyon from what was then called Green River City, leading a team of nine men in four boats.

May 22nd marks the 150th (sesquicentennial) anniversary of Powell’s second, 1871, expedition launch, also from Green River, and the Sweetwater County Historical Museum is sponsoring an expanded John Wesley Powell exhibit and coloring contest for children.

The expanded exhibit features over 20 photographs from the 1871 expedition, particularly prized by historians as no cameras were taken along on the first, 1869, exploration.

The image children will color for the contest is that of the one-armed Powell himself. It can be downloaded and printed out from the museum’s website at this link, and is also available for pickup at the museum. There will be three age categories:  5 and under, 6-7, and 8-10, with one entry per child. Winners will receive items from the museum’s bookstore and gift shop or gift cards. The deadline for submitting entries is May 22, with the winners being announced shortly thereafter.

The Sweetwater County Historical Museum is located at 3 E. Flaming Gorge Way in Green River. Museum hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Tuesday through Saturday, and admission is free.