By Lain Prior

Wyoming’s history is as varied as its landscape. Rich stories from the Native Americans, to explorers like John Colter in 1807, and even to the first female governor of Wyoming, Nellie Tayloe Ross, shaped the state. Yet, for many college-aged students history feels distant or even irrelevant. But what if getting involved in the Wyoming Historical Society could deepen your understanding of the present, connect you to untold stories, and help shape your future?

While you’re in college, you’re in this strange gray area between making an impact on the world and staring out at the world with naïve curiosity. The Wyoming Historical Society (WHS) offers opportunities to explore Wyoming’s past and to preserve it for future generations—wherever your interests lie.

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Sitting at the Historical Society booth in the University of Wyoming Student Union every Tuesday and Wednesday in October, I’ve encountered a wide range of people—some older, some younger—but all with one thing in common: a thirst for knowledge. No matter the major or reason for being at the university, everyone wanted to learn and understand more. Some came to me asking for help and connections with their projects, some came asking about events around the state. Everyone wanted to understand more.

The WHS is dedicated to encouraging the study of Wyoming history because to study the past is to understand the present and prepare for the future. Studying Wyoming’s history isn’t like your average history class where you have to memorize date after date, it’s about understanding where we are now and how we came to be.

Since the territory was founded, Wyoming has been setting the stage for equality all across the country. After all, we are nicknamed “The Equality State.” We were the location for not only the origins of the 19th amendment, but also the first female governor, Nellie Taylor Ross.

Wyoming has witnessed environmental preservation with the establishment of Yellowstone, the first national park; intense legal history including the invention of the Julian Gallows; landmark cases like the Race Horse case and Herrera v. Wyoming; mythological figures like Tom Horn; Indigenous history like the story of Black Kettle and his death on Lightning Creek; and industrial growth like the ever-growing oil industry. The WHS and its projects like WyoHistory.org make histories like these accessible to anyone who wants to dive into our country's evolution. Whatever your major or personal interests, there’s a place for you at the WHS.

The Historical Society’s vision is to ensure that Wyoming’s history remains accessible for generations to come. By joining the Society, you’re not just learning our history, you’re helping preserve it and keep it alive. Reach out to the WHS today to see our volunteer opportunities and historical events all over the state. By joining you’ll gain experience, connect with professionals in various fields and immerse yourself in Wyoming’s wild history. Ultimately, joining isn’t about the past, it’s about the future. The more you engage with our history, the more you realize it’s right here, happening now.

I’ll be at the booth in the University of Wyoming Union on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for the rest of October. Ready to explore Wyoming’s history? Stop by! Or join the Wyoming Historical Society today.

[UW student and historian Lain Prior is office assistant for the Wyoming Historical Society.]

Explore Wyoming's Varied History

Join the Wyoming Historical Society today