Cowboy Carnegies at museum

A traveling exhibit, “Cowboy Carnegies: Wyoming’s Historic Libraries,” is now on display at the Hot Springs County Museum and Cultural Center.

The Hot Springs County Historical Society, in cooperation with the museum and the Hot Springs County Pioneer Association, through an Alliance for Historic Wyoming grant, brought the exhibit to Thermopolis through March 30.

Steel magnate and philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie, began a grant program from 1886 thorough 1919 to help communities across the country build public libraries.

Thermopolis’ Carnegie Library was the last to successfully receive the grant in 1917 with the completion of the library in 1919. The library now houses the extension office.

In an effort to preserve the last ten remaining Carnegie Library buildings left in Wyoming, the Alliance for Historic Wyoming has provided this traveling exhibit to help communities understand the architectural gems they have and foster an appreciation for saving them as vital elements of our state’s architectural and cultural landscape.

In addition to the exhibit, on Saturday, March 10, the historical society will host an afternoon of tours and speakers to help us understand the importance of ur County Library as a key component of our community.

There will also be guided tours of the Carnegie Building, beginning at 1 p.m.

At 2 p.m. the historical society will hold their monthly meeting at the museum, where David Cunningham will present a program, “Cowboy Carnegies: Wyoming’s Historic Libraries.” He will be followed by Hot Springs County Library Director, Tracey Kinnaman, presenting “Today’s Library.”

A special mystery speaker will also be in attendance and a reception will follow the program.

The event is free and open to the public, and if you have any questions, please call 864-2678.