Visit the Jackson Hole History Museum

Why Visit the Jackson Hole History Museum?

“Jackson Hole is not merely a sky-piercing range of mountains for tourists to aim their cameras at. It is a country with spirit… There is, as one of our neighbors said,‘something about it.’ Those of us who have our homes here and are raising families can help interpret to the visitor the spirit of Jackson Hole, forged out of long controversy, tempered with our love for the valley…” — Margaret and Claus Murie, Wapiti Wilderness

For a visitor to Jackson Hole, landing in our rugged playground can feel overwhelming. It isn’t just the altitude — amidst so many activities to decide from, where do you start? Much like beginning your adventure with a wildlife tour where a knowledgeable guide takes you under their wing, showing you the sights and introducing you to the landscape and wildlife, the Jackson Hole History Museum is a great jumping-off point to broaden and deepen your knowledge of Jackson Hole.

“For visitors, this is a great jumping-off point to get to know the valley,” Executive Director Morgan Jaouen said. “It really connects you with the community of Jackson Hole.

Inside the newly-opened 13,000-square-foot museum at 175 E. Broadway, centrally located on the historic block near Town Square, you’ll meet the characters, places and events that formed this place we call home.

A Myriad of Exhibits

Exhibits are organized chronologically — starting at 11,000 years ago, when nomadic peoples hunted wooly mammoths seasonally in the valley — as well as thematically, covering topics such as the history of fur trappers, early mountaineering exploits, the geological forces that shaped the iconic Teton range, and the early presence of 24 indigenous tribes in the area. The exhibits are written by a variety of local experts.

“We’re a community museum and so we wanted to offer community voices,” said Kirsten Corbett, the museum’s exhibits and communications director.

A mural on the side of the building celebrates the Shoshone language. A weekly hands-on history hour invites kids, aged pre-K to second grade, to read aloud and finish with a craft. Touch drawers for kids offer a tactile experience of ancient artifacts and interactive kiosks allow visitors to select an interesting photo or artifact to learn more about.

“We found that these interactive screens are really popular with kids,” Corbett said.

Kids are a core part of the museum’s audience, according to Jaouen, and parents have shared with her that kids are asking to come back.

Dude ranches, the all-female town council that shaped commercial development downtown, and the history of rafting and fly fishing in the valley are at your fingertips. Guests can also peep into the historical Karns Cabin, used for homesteading in the late 1800’s. Another historic cabin, built for the smash-hit Western Shane, invites visitors to step inside the Teton’s history as a destination for movie-making throughout the 1930’s, 40’s and 1950’s.

Traveler Tidbit: Twenty feature films have been made on location is Jackson Hole. John Wayne’s first speaking part was in The Big Trail, filmed here in 1929. In addition to Shane, other movies shot in the valley include Spencer’s Mountain, Any Which Way You Can, Rocky IV and Django Unchained.

Upstairs is a gallery space that offers rotating exhibits such as art by contemporary indigenous artists or Western Women Artists that will be landing in the space in January 2025 through mid-July. A basement space containing historical archives is open by appointment to researchers interested in doing their own digging on the valley.

Have a question about Jackson Hole? Email info@jacksonholehistory.org with your topic and area of interest. Museum staff will then search the database and provide an inventory of what they have related to your topic. Then you can schedule an appointment to view pieces in person and dive deeper.

Staff answer about 200 questions a year, Corbett said. “We’ve assisted with books and people who are interested in family history in Jackson Hole.”

The Museum's Shop

Want to do some shopping for that Jackson Hole fanatic in your life? Step inside the museum gift shop. You don’t need to pay admission to shop and all proceeds support History Jackson Hole, the nonprofit which runs the museum. Staff source unique items such as books written by local voices — we recommend Wapiti Wilderness or The Diary of a Dude Wrangler — and curate locally made items such as Give’r gloves. The most popular gift? Historical photographs of Jackson Hole. There are about 20,000 historic photos in the museum’s collection.

“Everything sold in the store helps support the museum,” Corbett said.

Home, Sweet New Home

The museum has existed since 1958; however, it was spread across several buildings before buying the lot on the corner of the historic block, at 175 E. Broadway. After opening in the new space in June 2024, Jaouen said visitors spend more time inside the museum.

"It’s exciting to see people using the space,” Jaouen said. “Since opening in June, we’ve doubled our visitation.”

Traveler Tip: The museum also offers event rentals, with a classroom space that can easily be converted for your next meeting or panel, as well as a spacious outdoor deck complete with string lights that overlooks Snow King. The community hub is perfect for your next gathering.

The Jackson Hole History Museum is finally home. Now a hub for locals looking to learn more about their community as well as attend talks, leaders hope that it becomes a hub for visitors, too.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kate Ready is a freelance writer for Jackson Hole Traveler. In her off hours, she enjoys kayaking, cross-country skiing and attempting to bake bread. Kate recently received the statewide "Journalist of the Year" award from the Wyoming Press Association.