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Annual Kirwin Tour

August 10, 2019

Annual Kirwin Tour Excursion – Meeteetse Museums, Meeteetse

This tour of the legendary ghost mining town of Kirwin is led by staff of the Meeteetse Museums, Shoshone National Forest, and others. Included is the exciting “River Ecosystem Tour” led by Ecologist Kassy Skeen of the US Forest Service. In addition, geologist Lynn Sessions will offer a presentation on the geology of the area and museum staff will explain the rich history of the site. Re-enactors portraying historical characters from Kirwin will also be part of this year’s event. The tour also permits a side trip to the remnants of the “Amelia Earhart summer cabin” where the aviatrix planned to live had she survived. High clearance vehicles are required. Limited car-pooling is available, but NOT guaranteed. The tour leaves the museum at 8:30 a.m. and begins on site at 10:30 a.m. The River Ecology Tour begins after the presentations. Admission is free.

Gold was discovered at Kirwin, high on the Wood River in 1885. By 1894, the Shoshone River Mining Co. formed and the first ore was shipped from Kirwin by mule in 1897. Kirwin became well established, with 200 people and 38 buildings, including boarding houses, a hotel, a sawmill, a post office, stores and houses, but no cemetery, saloons or brothels. The gold and silver mined there was of low quality. A miner was killed in a mine explosion in 1905. In 1907, a savage snowstorm struck, dumping 50 to 100 feet of snow over more than eight days. An avalanche swept down one of the mountains, killing three people. Kirwin residents had to wait until the storm cleared to get word of the deaths to Meeteetse. When the storm cleared and crews began clearing the roads, the people of Kirwin left with what they could carry, leaving sheets on the beds and dishes on the tables. Today, many buildings, remnants of buildings and pieces of mining equipment remain, allowing the visitor a glimpse into the past. The trip is a full day. Participants should bring a lunch and beverages for the day, warm clothes, walking shoes and a camera.

Time: Tour leaves Meeteetse Museums at 8:30 a.m. and begins on site at 10:30 a.m.

Contact: Meeteetse Museums

Phone: (307) 868-2423

Website: http://www.meeteetsemuseums.org/tours.html

Details

Date:
August 10, 2019
Event Category:

Venue

Cody
Cody, WY 82414 United States + Google Map