Gain a greater understanding of the Medicine Bow area.
The Mission of the Medicine Bow Museum is to collect, preserve, and interpret artifacts and historical documents relating to the history of the Medicine Bow region.
The Medicine Bow Museum is located in the old railroad depot, across the highway from the Historic Virginian Hotel.
The depot was built when the railroad was relocated from Rock Creek and Carbon to Medicine Bow. The original depot burned on July 24, 1913, but was rebuilt later that year. It served the Medicine Bow area for 68 years, until the railroad closed the depot in 1981. The Medicine Bow Depot was transferred to the Town of Medicine Bow from the Union Pacific Railroad that same year.
The building is a single-story, white clapboard structure, rectangular in shape. The hip roof, rounded with red baked clay shingles, features flaired eaves and large stylized, bracket supports. The building also features woodframe windows, spaced evenly along the sides of the building. A chimney extends from the eastern hip and a second from the center of the decorative flashing ridge. A station platform is located on the west side of thestructure along one narrow end. On the south long side side of the building a bay window breaks the symmetry. The bay window allowed the station master to seeincoming trains on the tracks some 75-100 feet south of the structure. The interior is basically unchanged from the original design. The west half was the baggage room, business office and passenger waiting room. The east half is quarters for the station master and his family.
Although trains no longer stop in Medicine Bow, the depot has continued to operate as the Medicine Bow Museum. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Our function is to raise funds to support Museum initiatives, and recruit new board members from the Medicine Bow area.
307-761-2435
307-329-2597
307-760-8402
307-899-0241
307-379-2517
We love our fans!
I could have spent the whole day in there.
"Doesn’t look like much on the outside, but packed floor to ceiling with treasures and big items along the outside fences too!! I could have spent the whole day in there. Cute tiny gift area too!"
This is a small and worthwhile museum.
"You will be greeted by volunteer ranchers and locals. There are old west relics. It is intimate. They have some old west books for sale. They also have some things for sale for kids like: dinosaur toys, coloring books. Prices are very reasonable."
See Where Owen Wister Lived
"It is comprised of a group of buildings and displays including the old railroad depot and the Owen Wister cabin. It’s an interesting little museum telling the history of the area. There’s even a small exhibit of The Virginian TV show."
Excellent Museum
"For a small town of approximately 300 people this is an excellent museum. It is neat, clean and well put together.The staff person was pleasant and informative.It is an easy on off from I 80."
Traces of The Virginian
"Medicine Bow’s greatest pride and glory is that Owen Wister, the author of The Virginian, lived here for a couple of years, then went “back East” and wrote the book. The book was the base for the TV series which ran for nine years, only Bonanza and Gunsmoke did better in those times."
Worth the stop
"Very clean & well-organized exhibits. A little sparse with Native American history. Some products for purchase including The Virginian novel. The curator is constantly working on improvements, with the most recent acquisition being the Como Bluffs Dinosaur Bone Cabin. Leave a little cash in the donation box so they can continue to improve.!"
Help knowing you are doing something good for others and the community.
Memorial Day to Labor Day: Open Mon - Sat: 9am – 4pm
Sun& Holidays: 10am – 2pm
Off-season: By appointment, please call
307-379-2383
Admission by Donation.
