A Rocky History

The Fremont County Pioneer Museum has had a rocky history. Founded in 1915 by a group of dedicated pioneers, it has seen numerous changes in leadership and management. In the 1960s it was given to the County to manage, and through the 70s-80s it was often left without a staff and a budget barely able to keep the lights on. In the 1990's, the museum was condemned due to electrical hazards and structural deficiencies. In early 2000, it looked as if a beautiful new building would be constructed on lands donated by a newly formed museum organization, the Museum of the American West with help from the Pioneer Association. A beautiful building sits on the edge of Lander, but a series of recent articles have exposed a dark, ugly side to what is going on at the end of Main Street.