Historical Note

The Wyoming State Parks Commission was established by the legislature in 1937 to acquire and administer lands suitable for state parks, public campgrounds and public recreational uses. In 1963, the legislature authorized $50,000 for the purchase of historic South Pass City, though this money eventually reverted to the general fund and the site was later purchased by the Wyoming 75th Anniversary Commission in 1965.

Also in 1963, the control of all state historic landmarks and sites was transferred from the Wyoming State Library, Archives and Historical Board to the Commission. Four years later in 1967, the State Parks Commission was abolished by the legislature and all of the commission’s powers and duties, along with those of the State Land and Water Commission, were transferred to the new Wyoming Recreation Commission. This new commission was empowered to acquire lands for use as outdoor recreation areas, defined as encompassing “state parks, public recreation grounds, historical landmarks, and historical, archeological, geological and ecological sites now in existence or hereafter created.” This legislation also created a state archeologist, to be appointed by the commission. In 1969, administration of the Old South Pass Historical Preserve was transferred to the commission.

In 1987, the commission was empowered by the legislature to manage a state trails program and to establish and maintain monuments and markers. Three years later, in 1990, the administration of the park portion of the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Park and Historical Site was added to their growing list of responsibilities.

During the executive branch’s reorganization in 1989-1990, the commission was placed under the Department of Commerce, though the department was required to consult with the commission before executing any of their powers formerly held by the commission.

The Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources was created in 1999 and now includes State Parks and Historic Sites, the State Archeologist’s Office, the state trails program, State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), the Wyoming State Museum and the Wyoming State Archives.

Arrangement

The slides are arranged alphabetically by subject. Slideshow presentations kept together. List of subjects available on-site.

Scope and Content

Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources Slide Collection contains 35mm color slides documenting state parks and historic sites administered by the department.

Though most of the slides are not credited, those that are name Wyoming Recreation Commission, Wyoming Travel Commission, Randy Wagner and Paul Henderson. Wagner and Henderson were both department photographers.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Preferred Citation

Item description, P2015-20/print number, Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources Slide Collection, Wyoming State Archives.

Processing Information

Processed by Suzi Taylor in 2016. Slides organized by subject, in continuation of partial original order. Slideshow presentations removed from carousels but kept in order.

Acquisition Information

Transferred from the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources Public Information Office in 2015, MA# 30386. Accessioned into the photograph collection.

Related Material

Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources Department records, RG0135, Wyoming State Archives.

Access Terms

Alcova Reservoir (Wyo.)

Ames Monument State Historic Site (Wyo.)

Bear River State Park (Wyo.)

Bear River Station (Wyo.)

Big Laramie Station (Wyo.)

Boats and boating--Wyoming

Boysen State Park (Wyo.)

Buffalo Bill Reservoir (Wyo.)

Buffalo Bill State Park (Wyo.)

Camping

Cheyenne (Wyo.)

Chugwater (Wyo.)

Connor Battlefield State Historic Site (Wyo.)

Curt Gowdy State Park (Wyo.)

Dams and reservoirs--Wyoming

Edness Kimball Wilkins State Park (Wyo.)

Fishing

Fort Bonneville State Historic Site (Wyo.)

Fort Bridger (Wyo.)

Fort Bridger State Historic Site (Fort Bridger, Wyo.)

Fort D.A. Russell National Historic Landmark (Wyo.)

Fort Fetterman State Historic Site (Wyo.)

Fort Fetterman State Historic Site (Wyo.)

Fort Fred Steele State Historic Site (Wyo.)

Fort LaClede (Wyo.)

Fort Laramie National Historic Site (Wyo.)

Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site (Wyo.)

Glendo Reservoir (Wyo.)

Glendo State Park (Wyo.)

Grand Encampment (Wyo.)

Granger Stage Station State Historic Site (Wyo.)

Granite Springs Reservoir (Wyo.)

Guernsey Reservoir (Wyo.)

Guernsey State Park (Wyo.)

Hat Creek Station (Wyo.)

Hawk Springs State Park (Wyo.)

Historic Governors’ Mansion (Cheyenne, Wyo.)

Historic sites--Wyoming

Horseshoe Station (Wyo.)

Hot Springs State Park (Wyo.)

Independence Rock (Wyo.)

Independence Rock State Historic Site (Wyo.)

Jackson Lake (Teton County, Wyo.)

Keyhole Reservoir (Wyo.)

Keyhole State Park (Wyo.)

La Bonte Station (Wyo.)

Legend Rock State Archeological Site (Wyo.)

Medicine Lodge State Archeological Site (Wyo.)

Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark (Wyo.)

Monuments--Wyoming

Mountains--Wyoming

Oregon National Historic Trail

Oregon Trail Ruts State Historic Site (Wyo.)

Overland Trail

Paleontology--Wyoming

Parks --Wyoming

Photographs

Piedmont Kilns State Historic Site (Wyo.)

Platte River Stage Crossing State Historic Site (Wyo.)

Point of Rocks Stagecoach Station (Wyo.)

Point of Rocks State Historic Site (Wyo.)

Quaking Aspen Station (Wyo.)

Recreation

Register Cliff State Historic Site (Wyo.)

Reservoirs--Wyoming

Rock Creek Station (Albany County, Wyo.)

Rock formations--Wyoming

Seminoe Reservoir (Wyo.)

Seminoe Reservoir (Wyo.)

Seminoe State Park (Wyo.)

Sinks Canyon State Park (Wyo.)

Slides

Snowmobiling

Snowy Range (Wyo.)

South Pass City State Historic Site (Wyo.)

Stagecoach stations--Wyoming

Sulphur Springs Ranch (Wyo.)

Sweetwater Pony Express Station (Wyo.)

Tourism

Tourism Industry

Trail End State Historic Site (Wyo.)

Travel

Wagon Box Fight State Historic Site (Wyo.)

Washakie Station (Wyo.)

Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site (Wyo.)

Wyoming. Department of Commerce

Wyoming. Division of State Parks & Historic Sites

Wyoming. Division of State Parks, Historic Sites and Trails

Wyoming. Recreation Commission

Container List

Series I: Subjects 

Series II: Slideshow presentations