Museum at the Bighorns reports build-out progress, plans downtown exhibit and holiday tours
October 20, 2025 | Sheridan, Sheridan County, Wyoming
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Museum staff updated the Sheridan City Council on Oct. 20 about operations and the build-out of the Museum at the Bighorns’ new downtown location.
Chip Kane, director of operations, said the museum opened its lobby and store to the public on June 12 and that staff experimented with extended evening and weekend hours; because foot traffic on Main Street after 5 p.m. remained limited, the museum opted to shift to fall/winter hours Oct. 1 but plans to restore longer hours and seven-day operation when properly staffed next summer. "We opened the lobby to the public and the museum store on June 12," Kane said.
Kane described construction progress on the exhibit area: pre-drywall inspections completed, oriented strand board mostly hung and sheetrock expected to go up the following week. He said contractors expect substantial completion of the exhibit space in time to offer back-of-house tours during the Christmas Stroll.
Museum Director Carrie Edinger outlined programming and partnerships planned while construction continues. Edinger said the museum’s current exhibit about 171 North Main Street was well received and helped launch a downtown walking tour; over the summer the museum led tours for YMCA day camps and Sheridan Recreation District programs (about 90 youth) and for 67 third graders from Meadowlark and Highland elementary schools. Edinger said the museum will show designer renderings and exhibit build-out samples during the Christmas Stroll on Nov. 28 (10 a.m.–8 p.m.) and that REACH Sheridan will host a sensory-friendly tent in the exhibit area temporarily.
Upcoming exhibits and events noted by staff include a rotating exhibit schedule for 2026 featuring Jasmine Spear Johnson’s photographs marking the 150th anniversary of the Battle of the Little Bighorn (projected January–June 2026) and a planned 2027 exhibit of materials related to a donated private collection.
Staff thanked the council for GPET funds that supported the downtown transformation and said the co-directorship structure has helped split operational and collections responsibilities during the move and build-out.
Ending: Council thanked museum staff for progress reports and for outreach to youth programs; staff will return when construction reaches substantial completion and for follow-up on programming plans.
Chip Kane, director of operations, said the museum opened its lobby and store to the public on June 12 and that staff experimented with extended evening and weekend hours; because foot traffic on Main Street after 5 p.m. remained limited, the museum opted to shift to fall/winter hours Oct. 1 but plans to restore longer hours and seven-day operation when properly staffed next summer. "We opened the lobby to the public and the museum store on June 12," Kane said.
Kane described construction progress on the exhibit area: pre-drywall inspections completed, oriented strand board mostly hung and sheetrock expected to go up the following week. He said contractors expect substantial completion of the exhibit space in time to offer back-of-house tours during the Christmas Stroll.
Museum Director Carrie Edinger outlined programming and partnerships planned while construction continues. Edinger said the museum’s current exhibit about 171 North Main Street was well received and helped launch a downtown walking tour; over the summer the museum led tours for YMCA day camps and Sheridan Recreation District programs (about 90 youth) and for 67 third graders from Meadowlark and Highland elementary schools. Edinger said the museum will show designer renderings and exhibit build-out samples during the Christmas Stroll on Nov. 28 (10 a.m.–8 p.m.) and that REACH Sheridan will host a sensory-friendly tent in the exhibit area temporarily.
Upcoming exhibits and events noted by staff include a rotating exhibit schedule for 2026 featuring Jasmine Spear Johnson’s photographs marking the 150th anniversary of the Battle of the Little Bighorn (projected January–June 2026) and a planned 2027 exhibit of materials related to a donated private collection.
Staff thanked the council for GPET funds that supported the downtown transformation and said the co-directorship structure has helped split operational and collections responsibilities during the move and build-out.
Ending: Council thanked museum staff for progress reports and for outreach to youth programs; staff will return when construction reaches substantial completion and for follow-up on programming plans.
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