Contents of the Page:
Office Information
History of Park County
Contents of  Collection

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____| Office Information

Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
Location: Park County Courthouse Original Section, Main Floor
Address: Park County Courthouse 1002 Sheridan Avenue Cody, Wyoming  82414
Phone Number: (307) Cody: 527-8530 Powell: 754-8530
Toll Free Number: 1-(800) 786-2844  ext. 8530
Fax: (307) 527-8515

Department Head
Rhonda Spaulding , Curator


____| History of Park County  

The flags of five countries have flown over that part of Wyoming  which is now Park County—the flags of Spain, Great Britain, Mexico, France and the United States.  For many years it was in Dakota Territory.  With the birth of statehood in 1890, Wyoming, the 44th state, was divided into five counties running from North to South across the state.  What is now Park County was first a part of Sweetwater County, then Fremont County, and then Big Horn County;  until 1909 when the Wyoming State Legislature defined and set aside the boundaries of Park County.  A year later in November 1910, an election was held to determine the county seat. Competition was keen between Cody and Powell with Cody winning by a wide margin.  Records have been kept in Park County since 1911. The Historic Park County Courthouse was completed in 1912 and has housed the Archives since 1985.  


____| Contents of the Collection 

Photographs

  • 15,000 images of Pioneer History of Park County & Big Horn Basin
  • Index in progress

Biographical Files

  • 100’s of family files filled with genealogical records

Obituary Files

  • Records dating from 1900 to 2002 (not complete)

Cemeteries

  • Park County Cemeteries and isolate graves
  • Some Big Horn County Cemeteries and isolated graves

Schools

  • Photographs
  • Wide variety of records
  • CHS Annuals

Vertical Files

  • Topics & information covering 120 Years of history in what is now Park County and Big Horn Basin
  • Index includes 30 pages of topics

Oral Histories

  • 200 plus transcribed oral histories of Big Horn Basin Pioneers
  • Park County Historical Society
  • Members conducted interviews

Maps

  • Historic and early maps
  • Park County
  • Big Horn County
  • Wyoming State

Military Records

  • A variety spanning Civil War to Vietnam Conflict

Census Records

  • 1870 Wyoming Territorial Census
  • 1880 Wyoming Territorial Census
  • 1890 Wyoming list of Civil War Vets
  • 1891 Fremont County Census
  • 1900 Big Horn County
  • 1910 Big Horn County
  • 1910 Park County
  • 1920 Big Horn County
  • 1920 Park County
  • 1930 Big Horn County
  • 1930 Park County

Manuscript Collections

  • Family papers
  • Brochures, pamphlets, printed business materials, etc., Park County area

Unpublished Manuscripts

  • 50 plus unpublished manuscripts
  • A variety of topics and early families of Big Horn Basin

Periodicals

  • Annals of Wyoming (nearly complete)
  • Wyoming Wildlife
  • Montana Magazine
  • A variety of western magazines

Newspapers

  • Cody Enterprise 1900-2002
  • Wyoming Stockgrower Farmer

(various early issues)

  • Cody Times 1949-1953
  • Meeteetse News (various early issues)
  • Cody Boobyprise (complete)
  • Powell Tribune
  • Shoshone Valley News 1896 – 1899 (3 issues)

Library

  • Early History
  1. Park County
  2. Big Horn Basin
  3. Wyoming
  4. Native Americans
  5. Fur Trade
  6. Forts
  7. Trails
  8. Mining
  9. Cowboys
  10. Biographies
  11. Yellowstone Park
  12. Novels by Wyoming Authors
  13. Cookbooks
  14. Women in the West
  15. Heart Mountain Relocation Center
  16. Montana
  • Artifacts
  1. Wm F. Cody’s hatbox & small trunk
  2. Charles Hayden’s survey instruments
  3. Edward Grigware’s easel and paint box
  4. Olive Fell’s easel
  5. Caroline Lockhart’s copper still
  6. Paul Hindman’s sign
  7. Antique office equipment
  8. Molesworth furniture

Slide Programs

  • For schools & organizations
    1. Cody
    2. Powell
    3. Meeteetse
    4. Wiley Ditch
    5. Historic Buildings
    6. Women in the West
    7. Irma Hotel

Clothing & Textiles

  • Notable items
    1. Olive Fell’s leather  Riding outfit
    2. Caroline Lockhart’s hats
    3. Josie Thurston’s silk dress
    4. WWI, WWII & Vietnam Conflict Uniforms
    5. 1865 American Flag
    6. Mary Martin Ebert Collection

Walking Tours (self guided)

  • Cody
  • Powell
  • Meeteetse

Historic Preservation

  • Numerous publications, including National Register Nominations
  • Historic sites & buildings