Dorothy Milek

Nestled in Wyoming's Big Horn Basin, Hot Springs County has been home to ranchers, freighters, railroad men, lawmen and outlaws, coal miners and oil field hands. This book, featuring over 200 vintage photographs from the Hot Springs County Museum and the Milek family collection, tells the story of the settlement and culture of the County from 1871 to 1940. One of the last regions to be settled during the United States' 19th-century westward expansion, the springs that gave Hot Springs County its name were considered sacred by many of the native tribes of the region, including the Shoshoni and Arapaho. By 1875, white men were seeking out the healing springs as well as the ranching opportunities at the western end of the county. Along with the industrious and hardworking pioneers came the outlaws and the notorious. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were common acquaintances of county residents, especially local characters such as the mysterious Minne Brown and Tom Skinner, owner of the infamous Hole in the Wall Bar. Captured here are the businesses, mining and oil camps, lifestyles, and residents of the various towns of Hot Springs County, including Thermopolis, Gebo, Crosby, Kirby, Grass Creek, and Hamilton Dome.