Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 10-5
UPDATE August 5, 2022: Attention! The Kirwin tour this year will not be going to Kirwin. With thunderstorms the day preceding and forecasted for the day of, the Museums will not be taking guests to Kirwin. However, we will still have all the scheduled presentations at the Meeteetse Museums starting at 9 am. Refreshments will be served. We’re sorry for the inconvenience, but due to the location of Kirwin and the stream crossings to get to Kirwin, weather is a huge factor in its accessibility. We have worked with the Forest Service to make the best call.
Join the Meeteetse Museums on August 6th for our annual tour of the historic mining town, Kirwin. Located in the Shoshone National Forest, Kirwin was a boom-and-bust mining town in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Museums tour departs from the Meeteetse Museums at 9 am and begins on-site at approximately 10:30 am. There is construction between Cody and Meeteetse and although not usually active on the weekend, can cause delays of up to 20 minutes. Staff will depart promptly at 9 am, so guests are encouraged to plan for possible delays.
This year, the Museums are joined by State Geologist, Erin Campbell. Erin will introduce the geology of the area and why Kirwin was such a hub of activity. Then, Museum staff will detail the history of Kirwin and give a brief tour of notable buildings on-site. Guests are then welcomed to explore the site on their own or join Kassandra Skeen, Shoshone National Forest, on an ecology tour of the area.
The tour is free to the public, although donations are encouraged, and will last approximately four hours. Due to flooding in June, the road to Kirwin is unusually rough and the Museums advises that only high clearance trucks with skilled drivers or ATVs make the trek. Due to limited staff the Museums cannot arrange ridesharing. Guests should bring a lunch, plenty of water, lawn chairs, layers, and sun-protection. As always, this tour takes place in bear country and guests should be prepared to follow Forest Service protocol and carry bear spray.
The Meeteetse Museums is located at 1947 State Street in Meeteetse. For more information, call (307) 868-2423. This tour was made possible by Wyoming Humanities.
