It’s hard not to notice that the industrial roots of Southwest Wyoming are alive and well. Combined with the pioneer spirit of the past, Sweetwater County is still a pioneering leader of the world’s energy industry. The booming days of coal mining’s past have given way to new and innovative coal-mining practices in the area such as coal gasification and clean coal technology, which helps supply dependable energy nationwide. Sweetwater County is also home to the most massive and easily mineable deposits of trona in the world. Trona is the raw material for soda ash, and it’s used to make glass, paper and several other common products. Oil and natural gas production are major components of Sweetwater County’s industrial makeup with drilling rigs freckling the horizon, extracting oil and gas from some of the largest deposits in North America. Numerous gas plants exist throughout the county and many can be seen from I-80. In all, the minerals extracted in the county account for 67% of the area’s total revenue. Not a bad day’s work just living off the land. INDUSTRY IN SWEETWATER COUNTY #4 THE EXPEDITION OF JOHN WESLEY POWELL Expedition Island is a Registered Historic Landmark, marking the starting point for John Wesley Powell’s expeditions in 1869 and 1871. Powell’s exploration of the Grand Canyon is generally considered one of the last documentations of unknown land in the continental United States. The community park is a great family gathering spot with a play area and numerous recreational opportunities. *See Page 14 for more information on Expedition Island in Green River. #5 FOSSILS OF LAKE GOSIUTE Time travel to the Eocene Era at Lake Gosiute, once home to a diverse population of strange creatures that flourished in the lush vegetation and tropical shores. Fast-forward 58 million years and it’s an archaeologist’s paradise with fossil-rich soil that tells tales of ecosystems past. The lake once stretched from Pinedale, Wyoming in the north to Manila, Utah in the south, and it spanned as far as Rawlins, Wyoming to the east and Lyman, Wyoming to the west. If you have a keen eye for fossils, you’re sure to find a few in the area. To enjoy interpretive exhibits and tours, make sure to stop by the visitor center at Fossil Butte National Monument on US-30, just east of Kemmerer. HOW TO SEE IT: From I-80, take exit 103 (College Drive) and continue for about a mile. The destination is on your right. WWCC Natural History Museum 2500 College Drive, Rock Springs, WY 82901 (307) 382-1648 https://www.westernwyoming.edu/about/visit/ natural_history.html HISTORY MUSEUMS Want to learn more? Discover exhibits, artifacts and stories at history museums in Rock Springs and Green River. Rock Springs Historical Museum Page 11 WWCC Natural History Museum Page 10 Sweetwater County Historical Museum Page 14
Sweetwater County Official Travel Guide 2019 Sweetwater County Official Travel Guide: Page 23
