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American Heritage Center

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Laramie, WY
American Heritage Center

Come discover History at the American Heritage Center, the University of Wyoming's archives, and rare books library.

06/08/2026

100 years ago today, the class of 1926 graduated from the University of Wyoming. New to the AHC is this stunning 1926 diploma from alumnus Carl A. Johnson. Enclosed in a leather-bound volume with Johnson's name embossed on the cover, the diploma includes a gold seal with gold and brown ribbons.

Even more amazing, the document features the signatures of the entire faculty body. Some names can still be recognized today, including Aven Nelson, June Downey, Grace Raymond Hebard, and S. H. Knight. They likely developed some hand cramps after signing the diplomas for Johnson and 108 of his fellow graduates!

Read all about the diploma and the 1926 UW commencement at https://bit.ly/4dSgtmc

06/01/2026

"The Wyoming Trip made national news. I remember being at a friend's house at 5th Street and Park Avenue when we happened to catch Walter Cronkite on CBS Evening News mispronouncing my name as he told the nation about our planned trip. But still I didn't know what I was in for."

In 1976, at the age of 12, Wyomingite Manus Hand and his family embarked on a journey across the United States and Canada to present honorary citizenship in the state to towns, counties, townships, and cities named "Wyoming." Now, fifty years later, he shares his memories of the trip, including a presentation to the Wyoming Bicentennial Commission, running out of gas in the middle of Times Square, and a brief glimpse of President Ford during a tour of the White House by Dick Cheney.

Read the story at https://bit.ly/3Rz2bhC, see memorabilia from the 26 Wyomings in "Voices of Wyoming: Our Stories of America" at the AHC, and stop by the University of Wyoming Foundation for photos of the trip in "Wyoming’s Ambassador: Manus Hand Travels America."

Pictured: The Hand family in the West Wing with then-White House chief of staff Dick Cheney, 1976.

05/29/2026

We're happy to announce that registration for our August teacher workshop is now open! If you're a K-12 educator, you're invited to join us for "Where Revolutionary Ideals Become Reality" August 9–11, hosted by the AHC and George Washington's Mount Vernon.

You'll learn how to integrate project-based learning into your classroom to set students up for success in National History Day competitions at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

Lodging and travel expenses for those traveling more than 50 miles to attend the workshop will be provided. Meals will be served to all participants during the workshop. Plus, PTSB credits will be available! Sign up at https://bit.ly/4fKRFh5.

05/22/2026

This week, we're installing three new exhibits at the Marian Rochelle Gateway Center, home of the University of Wyoming Foundation. Stop by to see them the next time you're around campus for a look at some fascinating historic photography!
• Floor 1: All-American Wyoming Cowboys Milo Komenich and Kenny Sailors
• Floor 2: Wyoming’s Ambassador: Manus Hand Travels America
• Floor 3: Marching for Wyoming and America: University of Wyoming’s Military Training

05/21/2026

Our very own Wyoming History Day Coordinator Bryce Mittelstadt ran into Allison Wickens of George Washington's Mount Vernon at the National Summit on Civics Education in Philadelphia. This must be fate, because Allison has been planning a teacher workshop for the AHC!

If you're a K-12 educator, you're invited to join us August 9–11 for two and a half days of hands-on learning where you get to be the student. You'll learn how to integrate project-based learning into your classroom to set students up for success in National History Day competitions at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

Lodging and travel expenses for those traveling more than 50 miles to attend the workshop will be provided. Meals will be served to all participants during the workshop. Plus, PTSB credits will be available! Stay tuned for signup information.

04/29/2026

Our acclaimed "Life Between the Rails" exhibit and oral history project now has a permanent home at the Lincoln Community Center!

Come see the exhibit at the LCC's Cinco de Mayo event this Saturday. At 2 p.m., AHC historian Tana Libolt will introduce the exhibit, followed by a talk with project interviewee and UPRR veteran Roy Sanchez, who will speak about his experiences working for the railroad. Roy was the first Latino to be hired to work in train and engine service in Laramie, joining as a brakeman in 1973.

04/16/2026

We're hard at work getting set up for our exhibit "Wyoming Voices: Our Stories of America." Come see the results for yourself at our opening reception on April 23 at 5:30 and learn how communication and storytelling have shaped Wyoming's identity throughout history.

04/15/2026

As part of the Cheyenne Downtown Development Authority - DDA program to create original banner designs for downtown Cheyenne, a number of historic images from AHC collections have been made available for artist use! If you're thinking about participating in the contest and all you need is a little inspiration, the photos the DDA selected are preeettty coooool (just saying 😉).

04/09/2026

After months of research, planning, and preparation, the AHC is pleased to invite you to the opening reception for "Wyoming Voices: Our Stories of America" on April 23!

Created in conjunction with the United States’ 250th anniversary, "Wyoming Voices: Our Stories of America explores how communication has shaped Wyoming’s past and present. Drawing from photographs, letters, newspapers, and media held at the American Heritage Center, the exhibit highlights the many voices that have contributed to the state’s identity and invites visitors to reflect on how stories are shared—and remembered.

The reception will feature guest lecturer Robyn Lopez, a faculty member in Native American and Indigenous Studies at the University of Wyoming. Her talk, "Repositories of Knowledge: Archiving Indigenous Language and Culture for Preservation and Revitalization," will explore the links between academic researchers and Indigenous communities through archival collections, examining relationships between these communities through time and discussing ways in which these relationships have functioned.

We can't wait to see you there!

04/03/2026

We're excited to announce that "Turning the Pages of America" is now on display at the AHC! Take a literary road trip to explore America's diverse views and lived experiences with one book for each of the 50 states. Fiction, nonfiction, memoirs, and photo books all appear here, with dates ranging from 1627 to 1963.

Wyoming’s featured book is "Women of Wyoming" by Cora M. Beach, which highlights significant and influential women from Wyoming such as Nellie Tayloe Ross and Grace Raymond Hebard. Other books include "Up from Slavery" by Booker T. Washington (Alabama), which traces Washington's journey from a childhood in slavery to his founding of the Tuskegee Institute, and "As Maine Goes" by Alta Smith and Esther Dunham, whose photos of the state encapsulate its essence and scenery.

"Turning the Pages of America" was curated by Laurel Carr, an intern at the Toppan Rare Books Library and Museum Studies minor who assembled the exhibit for her internship project!

Address

2111 E. Willett Drive
Laramie, WY
82071

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 4pm
Tuesday	9am - 4pm
Wednesday	9am - 4pm
Thursday	9am - 4pm
Friday	9am - 4pm

Website

http://www.uwyo.edu/ahc

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