New displays at HSC Museum

If you haven’t visited the Hot Springs County Museum and Cultural Center in a while, now would be a great time to reaquaint yourself with the wonderful history of our area and take a peek at the new displays that have been recently added.

Periodically, the staff at the museum will gather items together and ‘swap out’ displays to keep the museum fresh.

You will find a new sports display, a memorial featuring Jack Aggers, a local sports legacy who was inducted into the Wyoming Sports Hall of Fame.

You will also find early Thermopolis Bobcat memorabilia and items once used by Moe Radovich, a Thermopolis High School graduate who played professional basketball, even taking on the Harlem Globetrotters. Radovich’s All American jacket and other items are currently on display.

If the western way of life is more up your alley, Cottonwood Creek Rancher and Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame inductee Dub McQueen is featured in a new display downstairs at the museum.

You’ll find a gallery with stories of his life and memorabilia such as his chaps and saddle.

McQueen’s life was cut short prematurely when he and the horse he was riding was struck by lightning. His saddle still bears the holes created by the lightning strike.

The museum just accepted a temporary interactive kiosk entitled ‘The War on Terror, Fallen Warriors Memorial’, which honors veterans who have died since 9/11.

The kiosk includes a query mode where you may type in a veteran’s name and a sketch of the hero will be displayed. Often times, it includes an actual photo of the veteran.

Coincidentally, since we’re in the midst of cold and flu season, the museum has created a ‘Medicines of Yesteryear’ display where you will see medicines you just don’t find in the medicine cabinet anymore.

Some of the old timey cure-alls of the past are a bit scary.

Authors Michael and Kathleen Gear resently donated a BMW motorcyle to the museum which is on display in the basement.

The motorcycle was used to take the Gears on research trips, book tours and promotional events, carrying them about 130,000 miles through every state with the exception of North Dakota.

The bike and their story are on display on the ramp leading to the downstairs galleries.