2021-02-23 10:52:51
DIG DEEP INTO WYOMING’S Mining and Railroad History Some people come to Rock Springs to enrich their knowledge of Wyoming’s mining heritage. Others come to take a trip back in time on the tracks of railroaders’ past. But no one expects to find such a culturally diverse melting pot in this high-desert oasis. Surprised? You haven’t seen anything yet. ABOUT ROCK SPRINGS Named for a former spring that babbled through town, Rock Springs actually sprung from the growth and development of the area’s coal mining industry. In 1868, the coal mined here powered the steam engines of the Union Pacific Railroad. The company laid hundreds of miles of track, which helped surrounding towns thrive. And the booming railroad and mining work left behind a culturally rich community that’s represented by dozens of nationalities. The railroad’s conversion to diesel and oil power in the mid-1900s drove out many of the city’s coal mines. But today, Rock Springs thrives with trona mines and a booming oil and gas industry, keeping the city vibrant with locals and visitors alike. THINGS TO DO WWCC NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM WALK WITH WYOMING’S GIANTS. Tens of millions of years before humans shook the ground in Sweetwater County mining for coal, dinosaurs thundered across Southwest Wyoming. To witness the size and majesty of these earliest residents of the area, you can see five life-size replicas at Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs. Visit the Museum: The WWCC Natural History Museum is an archaeologist’s and geologist’s playground, displaying a stunning collection of stones and several wall-mounted fossils of fish, palm leaves and reptiles discovered in the area. And to learn about the earliest known humans who lived here, feast your eyes on prehistoric pottery, small fossils and other evidence of our ancient neighbors. WWCC Natural History Museum 2500 College Drive Rock Springs, WY 82901 (307) 382-1648 www.westernwyoming.edu/campus-map/exhibits-on-campus/natural-history.php COMMUNITY FINE ARTS CENTER DISCOVER YOUR ARTISTIC ROOTS. A unique collaboration between Rock Springs, Sweetwater County and the local school district, the Community Fine Arts Center is now home to a permanent collection of more than 500 original American works. A Collection of Culture: Founded in 1965 by a local science teacher (yes, a science teacher), the Community Fine Arts Center in Rock Springs is a cultural gem in Southwest Wyoming. The center’s first painting, “Shack Alley” by Henrietta Wood, was actually purchased in 1939 to hang in the local high school. This first painting inspired an appreciation for the arts that motivated Elmer Halseth to travel America to buy paintings, drawings and prints with nickels and dimes earned at school carnivals, bake sales and donation jars. The collection grew and eventually needed a home of its own. At the Community Fine Arts Center you can marvel at pieces from artists like Norman Rockwell, Grandma Moses, Loren McGiver, Elliott Orr, Edward Chavez, Paul Horiuchi, Ilya Bolotowsky, Raphael Soyer and Rufino Tamayo, along with other well-known local and regional Wyoming artists. And for something fresh each time you come, enjoy the rotating exhibit of traditional and contemporary paintings, sculptures, prints and photography. Community Fine Arts Center 400 C Street, Rock Springs, WY 82901 (307) 362-6212 www.cfac4art.com WHITE MOUNTAIN GOLF COURSE TRADE THE ASPHALT FOR GREENS. At the White Mountain Golf Course, stop by the fully equipped pro shop, take your pick of 27 challenging holes or practice your swing on the driving range. A food and beverage cart will cater to you on the fairways, and you can grab a bite and a beverage and kick up your cleats in the clubhouse after your match. Any non-golfers can enjoy the small fishing lake, the ball field complex and the duck pond nearby. White Mountain Golf Course 1501 Clubhouse Drive Rock Springs, WY 82901 (307) 352-1415 www.rswy.net/department/division.php?structureid=113 HISTORICAL MUSEUM MINE THE ROCK SPRINGS PAST. Incorporated in 1888, Rock Springs owes much of its existence to the mining industry, boasting as many as ten coal mines in the downtown area alone at one point. A Taste of History: Coal miners from Kentucky and Pennsylvania brought their underground experience to Rock Springs, but the booming workload sent recruiters to Europe and other countries to find more help. This broad-scale immigration turned the town into the nation’s leader in coal production and made Rock Springs one of the most ethnically diverse melting pots west of the Mississippi. Some well-known outlaws also made their way through Rock Springs over the years. Robert Leroy Parker, more commonly known as Butch Cassidy, got his nickname after working in a local butcher shop. And it’s rumored that Calamity Jane had a dugout on what is now M Street. From dig-ups to hold-ups, Rock Springs has seen a bit of it all. Visit the Museum: The Rock Springs Historical Museum is housed in what was once the Rock Springs City Hall —built of sandstone brick in 1894. Each year, the museum offers regularly rotating exhibits that showcase the town’s proud heritage, allowing visitors a chance to appreciate the perseverance it took to carve out a livelihood in this unforgiving landscape. The museum staff is happy to answer any questions you have about the history of Rock Springs, and they’ll steer you to other points of interest such as a self-guided walking tour of historic downtown. Rock Springs Historical Museum 201 B Street, Rock Springs, WY 82901 (307) 362-3138 www.rswy.net/department/?fDD=2-0 DOWNTOWN ROCK SPRINGS Great American Main Street Award Winner, 2018 Downtown Rock Springs is a bustling town rich with history, culture and opportunities for recreation. The charming town boasts an evolving art scene, unique dining options and local markets you won’t want to miss! SIDEKICKS WINE & BOOK BAR Books line the wall from floor to ceiling at this one-of-a-kind bar in Downtown Rock Springs. Sidekicks Wine & Book Bar features a selection of wine from Jackson Hole Winery along with charcuterie boards, desserts, coffee and tea. This modern space also hosts various events from book signings to comedy performances. 507 Broadway Street Rock Springs, WY 82901 FREEDOM MURAL Walking along Broadway Street, visitors will stumble upon ‘Freedom’, a mural by Chad Bolsinger. The Rock Springs mural incorporates Wyoming’s diverse wildlife and landscape. 518 Broadway Street, Rock Springs WY 82901 (on the side of Color Works on Broadway) ART UNDERGROUND GALLERY The pedestrian underpass in Downtown Rock Springs is filled with community artwork from 25 residents of all ages. Known as the Art Underground Gallery, individual murals brighten this unique public gallery. Near the Rock Springs Coal archway and yellow caboose. SWEETWATER EVENTS COMPLEX & SPEEDWAY With the beauty of White Mountain as a natural backdrop, the Sweetwater Events Complex aims to keep smiles on families’ faces year-round. At 320 acres in size, the facility is one of Wyoming’s largest, most versatile event complexes. Decorators and green thumbs will love Southwest Wyoming’s Home and Garden Show. Gunslingers can feast their eyes at the Up in Arms Gun Show, and cowboys can get their fill of the West at the Red Desert Roundup Rodeo. And if you can’t get enough of the sweet roar of engines, you won’t want to miss out on the races happening at the Sweetwater County Speedway, located at the Sweetwater Events Complex. With summers packed full of motocross matchups and stock car races, nearly every weekend has something under the hood for you. 3320 Yellowstone Road Rock Springs, WY 82901 (307) 352-6789 www.sweetwaterevents.com www.sweetwaterspeedway.com EVENTS & ACTIVITIES MAIN STREET MARKET From July through September, Rock Springs’ Main Street comes alive for the weekly farmer’s market. Browse a variety of local and regional vendors selling fresh produce, artisan goods and homemade crafts every Thursday from 4PM to 7PM. Free Admission. South Main Street Rock Springs, WY 82901 SWEETWATER BLUES N’ BREWS Every August, national blues bands and regional and local breweries come together for one tasty and toe-tapping summer festival at Bunning Park in Downtown Rock Springs! Intersection at J and Evans Street Rock Springs, WY 82901 BLAIRTOWN PARK Cool down in the swimming pool, play a game of baseball or enjoy a shaded picnic. Blairtown Park in Rock Springs offers visitors of all ages plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors! 900 First W Avenue Rock Springs, WY 82901 Full Calendar of Events Pages 18-19 Events and activities are subject to change. Please check online for the latest updates due to COVID-19.
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