Real living history

Grand Encampment Museum (GEM) hosted its annual Living History Day on Saturday with booming attendance. The event is a tradition which Candy Moulton, author and a founder of GEM said goes back about 50 years.

"I was here when we did the first one," Moulton said. "When we first started it, we did it on Memorial Day weekend, but so many times it would be cold. Some of the buildings have fire places that we would light and huddle into to stay warm. Then we moved it to July, so now we sweat."

Moulton was dressed in a period outfit of the late 19th century as visitors entered the Parkinson House where she greeted them. Moulton was there to answer any questions about the building and museum.

Moulton said Living History Day is a great opportunity to see the museum without a guided tour.

"People should come on this day because this museum is always putting up new exhibits that are wonderful," Moulton said. "You can visit the museum at your leisure instead of having to take a guided tour, which is what you have to do any other time."

Moulton was just one of the volunteers dressed up for Living History Days.

Janet Zahn and Anita Morris were not only dressed in period clothing, but they were also playing period music on fiddles.

"Living History Day is really a good way to introduce young people to history," Morris said. "They can see history as not dead, but still living. It is fun for all."

Living History Day may be fun, but the event is also educational.

Mark Dunning, president of the GEM board, was donned in cowboy attire giving lessons on not only roping, but also how to make rope.

"Living History Day is a great way for us to showcase the museum and people can go building to building to building and almost feel the history come alive," Dunning sai. "Having the Rendezvous (Sierra Madre Muzzleloader Mountain Man Rendezvous) just adds to the experience. The town of Grand Encampment got its name from a rendezvous of trappers and it's huge part of the history around here. The two events really compliment each other."

Dunning said, between the two events, kids and adults get a real dose of interactive and enjoyable history.

"I make rope with kids when they visit me," Dunning said. "I am a fifth generation rancher and been a cowboy my whole life. This is a chance for the kids to see these rope machines that were on all the ranches and the rope we make together is souvenir they get to take home and remember Living History Day."

Dunning said he is able to show kids that some things cowboys and ranchers did a 100 years ago are still practiced.

"I also go over the tradition of making some of the ropes made here," Dunning said. "Sure there is definitely change to how things were once done, but there are elements that stay the same."

Living History Day at GEM uses volunteers from all over. Mary and Celia Carey are from Colorado but, for this day, they are saloon keepers giving out free root beer shots while a poker game is being played nearby.

Poker player Bob Herring tells newcomers to put their guns on the table.

The Carey sisters were asked to be a part of Living History Day when they were discovered a couple years back dressed in some fancy old west costumes outside the Hotel Wolf. When asked if they would be interested in participating in Living History Day, they both emphatically said yes.

Lynda Johnson, who is the clothing and textile curator for GEM, said she loves Living History Day.

"It is just great to see the costumes being worn during this event," Johnson said. "The kids love seeing the old costumes."

Sheriff-dressed Tim Nicklas, director of GEM, was delighted with turnout this year.

"We have a great crowd and today these people that are dressed in the old time attire are the museum," Nicklas said. "Seriously, they do a phenomenal job."

Nicklas said many locals have visited this year to see the new exhibit of the tram diorama which was introduced a little over a month ago.

"When people see it, they want to bring other people to see it," Nicklas said. "It is really popular."

The Lora Webb Nichols exhibit presented to the public a few days after the diorama has proven to be incredibly popular, Nicklas said.

"Since we had Nicole (Hill) present her book on Nichols with the opening of our exhibit, I am getting calls all the time asking if it is the Lora Webb Nichols, the photographer," Nicklas said. "I have had people travel from all over the country just to come and see this exhibit. I have had museum professionals, college professors and professional photographers come here just because of this exhibit."

Nicklas said a recent review on Hill's book titled "Encampment, Wyoming" by the New Yorker has increased the attention on the new exhibit.

"It has been wildfire. Talk about a shot in the arm," Nicklas said. "I thought the museum was doing well before, but this exhibit has put us on a different playing field."

Nicklas said it was good to see the Rendezvous back after last year's hiatus due to COVID.

"It truly adds to our Living History Day," Nicklas said. " I have to thank Valley Foods for donating all the ice cream we are giving out. It has brought a lot of joy to the kids. But Living History Day could not happen without the volunteers we have here. The board of directors come here too and work but also have fun. This day is not meant to be fundraiser, it is a day where we at the museum are giving back to the community and the day is one of the highlights of the summer. Living History Day should not be missed, especially if you live in the West."