Exhibits

The Museum of the Mountain Man has a comprehensive collection of Rocky Mountain fur trade era artifacts including those of the American Indian as well as the Mountain Man. A section downstairs also highlights the settlement era of Sublette County. The following list is just a highlight of what the Museum has on display.
Chief American Horse Warrior Society Tipi, c. 1876 - Native American Historian and Ethnologist, Michael "Bad Hand" Terry, has been a regular speaker at the Museum for many years giving living history demonstrations and displaying his Plains Indian Encampment. His lectures are free to the public and give an overview of life of the Plains Indians in the 1800s. Michael's 20' diameter, brain-tanned buffalo hide tipi is the newest exhibit to the Museum. This is one of the few buffalo-hide tipis in existence today, and one of only two on display in museums. This display comes complete with furnishings, buffalo robes, utility bags, hand-painted drum, parfleches, headdresses, buffalo bull neck shield, bow and arrows, elaborately pained buffalo hide liner, war lance, pipes, Indian kitchen, and much more. This exhibit is a donation from Gayle McMurry Kinnison through her Wyoming Community Donor Advised Endowment.
Jim Bridger's Rifle - In 1853, Louis Vasquez, a good friend and business partner of mountain man Jim Bridger had a .40 caliber half-stock rifle engraved "J.Bridger 1853" and presented it to Jim for reasons unknown. Perhaps it had something to do with their long business association or possibly it was due to the fact that 1853 was indeed a turning point in Jim Bridger's life. After Bridger's death, the rifle was held as part of a private Buffalo Bill collection. The gun was sold several times at auctions until it found its permanent home in the Museum of the Mountain Man in 1988.
Shoshone Sheephorn Bow - The most powerful short bow of the Native American horse culture, sheephorn bows were backed and wrapped with sinew for increased strength and recoil. Such a bow was a prized possession. This specimen is one of the oldest authenticated, and was probably made using stone tools. It dates to 1690 - 1730 and is approximately 34 inches long.
Trapper Statue - Greeting visitors at the front of the main gallery is this Trapper statue. Artist Jim McNealey of Eugene, Ore. and Bondurant, Wyo. presented the statue to the museum in 1995 to honor his father George McNealey and his life long friend Richard Hecox, who made his home in the Upper Green River Valley. The 800 pound, 10 ft tall statue is carved out of a huge solid chunk of wood and his head & hands are cast bronze.
American Indian Clothes and Artifacts - When the Mountain Men came to the Rocky Mountains, they entered a world occupied by American Indians for thousands of years. Tribes such as Shoshone, Crow, Arapaho, Ute, Blackfeet and many other were an integral part of the fur trade era. The Museum has gathered a large collection of American Indian artifacts including tools, weapons, clothes as well trade goods that were typical of the Rocky Mountain fur trade era.
Mountain Man Camp - The American Mountain Men, formed in the 1970's, are a group of individuals dedicated to the research and study of the history, traditions, tools, mode of living, etc., of the trappers, explorers, and traders known as the Mountain Men. This research includes academic research, but is focused heavily on experiencing and trying the authentic ways of the Mountain Man. This year the AMM have setup a traditional Mountain Man Camp scene including a winter dressed Mountain Man.
Pinedale 100 Celebration - In the summer of 1904, two landowners and a merchant decided to start a new town near a small ranch post office called Pinedale. By September 26, 1904, the two landowners had donated 5 acres each and a 4 block town plat was surveyed. During that first year lots were given away to encourage development. Early buildings included a store, saloon, newspaper, school and community hall. The Pinedale 100 display presents over 100 photos showing the town development over the last 100 years.