About Us
Our Mission
Preserve our local history and keep it accessible to the Sheridan community, tourists and visitors.
Our Vision
Grow our collection space and create more dynamic experiences for Museum visitors. Become a larger repository for historic documents, photographs and artifacts.
Our Goals
Build relationships with donors that support our mission and vision. Partner with area businesses and organizations to share the stories of Sheridan County.
OUr history
Preserving Sheridan's Past for Future Generations
The Museum at the Bighorns was first organized as the Sheridan County Historical Society (SCHS) in the 1960's. One of the SCHS's first major projects was to help lead the massive undertaking to save the Sheridan Inn, which subsequently became the museum's first home. The Sheridan Inn continues to be a thriving business in the community.
In the 1970s, the SCHS led efforts to save the John B. Kendrick Mansion from demolition. The SCHS purchased the home, and managed it for several years before transferring it to the State of Wyoming who continues to manage it as the popular Trail End Historic Site. In 2002, the SCHS hired its first professional staff and, for a time, operated out of a small house on Alger Avenue. In 2005, the SCHS began searching for a new location, and a year later, in 2006, the doors of the new Sheridan County Museum opened in its current location at 850 Sibley Circle.
In 2019, the museum rebranded as the Museum at the Bighorns to better reflect that the museum engages visitors in understanding and valuing the natural and cultural resources of the greater Bighorn Mountain region. Services of the museum include both semi-permanent and changing exhibits; educational programming including History after Dark, cemetery tours, a trunk program for schools, Tidbit activities for school-aged children; field trip resources for teachers; and research assistance for the general public.
The museum’s collections currently contain more than 30,000 items including photographs, three dimensional objects, and archival materials. The museum facility is approximately 6,5000 square feet and serves audiences from all socio-economic backgrounds and ages. The collections feature a range and variety of materials that celebrate western culture, commemorating events, people, and landscapes spanning from the early nineteenth century through to contemporary times. This includes artifacts from Sheridan’s thriving main street and surrounding ranches.
Beginning in 2023, the organization is embarking on an interpretive planning process that will collaborate with stakeholders and partners throughout the community to identify a new vision for the organization and the exhibits and programs that will stem from that new direction. Public input will be sought as part of this planning process.
Serve on our board
Board Terms and Meetings
Board members are elected to three-year terms, and meet at 5:30 PM on the second Tuesday of each month.
How to Apply
New board members are typically elected at the annual meeting in the fall, which is usually held in late September or early October; however, the board may fill open seats at any time at their discretion. Bylaws allow for up to twelve board members, and terms are staggered to ensure institutional continuity. Please submit a resume and letter of interest to info@museumbighorns.org on or before August 1 each year to be included in the nominating committee's interview process. To be eligible for consideration, all potential nominees must be current members of the Museum at the Bighorns.