Move made to acquire property adjoining county museum

The Hot Springs County Pioneer Association (Pioneers) is spearheading an initiative to raise funding to acquire property adjoining the Hot Springs County Museum and Cultural Center. Rarely does an opportunity present itself whereby the community can join together to improve our museum.

Museums, as a rule, not only offer a glimpse of our past but offer opportunity for us and future generations to continue to document the story of our custom and culture in our unique part of the world. Our museum not only draws tourism dollars, but also offers a venue for community meetings and entertainment, and a place of learning for both children and adults.

At present, the museum’s collection of archives has outgrown the room to display them. Several buildings of storage are needed to contain collections of relics and research data.

The property adjoining the museum has been offered for sale, so with the idea that “unless we grow, we die,” the Pioneers have made an offer of $105,000 for the property. The property contains a four-bedroom log home with an unattached double garage situated on 1.5 lots.

The Pioneers have committed themselves to raise the funds within the next 60 days in order to purchase the property with a cash payment, and are asking the community to come alongside in an effort to meet their goal by mid-December. A committee has been organized to offer various options for folks to contribute toward the goal, and these opportunities will be published in the Independent Record going forward.

As the Pioneers are a 501c3 non-profit, all donations are tax deductible. As year-end approaches, consider making a tax deductible donation toward this worthy cause. Donations can be made to Hot Springs County Pioneer Association Special Account and sent to HSC Pioneer Assn., P.O. Box 11, Thermopolis, WY 82443, marked Attention: Bonnie Bauer.