Museum of the Mountain Man
     Years ago they paddled the Snake, loaded with furs for trade and a gun to protect their cache, but now old-time trappers only exist in books—and in museums. The Museum of the Mountain Man, in Pinedale, Wyoming, inspects the rough life of trappers in the West and their epic struggle to live off the land. Authentic, educational exhibits take visitors into an era long gone and leave guests with hair-raising stories of what it was like to settle in the virgin West. See page 38 for more information.

     Green River Valley Museum
     In downtown Big Piney, Wyoming, this museum’s exhibits include: prehistoric Indian artifacts, a restored homesteader cabin, pioneer homesteading and town-site development, early ranching and branding equipment, oil- and gas-field-development history, a campfire girls display, and other visiting exhibits.

     Old Trail Town
     Old Trail Town in Cody—a Sturbridge Village of the West—recreates an early Western settlement. Visitors can walk through buildings and read about famous Western characters on tombstones. Watch for the one etched Jeremiah Johnson: his nickname was Liver Eatin’ Johnson. Bon appétit!

     River Runner Museum
     Historic boats and rafts hang from the walls of the a River Runners Museum located in the Mad River Boat Trips “wedge” south of Jackson. Follow William H. Ashley’s bull boat expedition on the Green River and John Fremont’s 1842 voyage in the first inflatable raft. Artifacts and replicas throughout the museum backpaddle visitors into another era, when river running was a courageous and risky means of travel.

     National Museum of Wildlife Art
     With 1,300 works by more than 100 artists spanning 170 years, Jackson Hole’s National Museum of Wildlife Art is a mecca for art aficionados. John Clymer, Charlie Russell, and Thomas Moran grace the walls of the building.

     Indian Arts Museum
     North of Jackson at the Colter Bay Visitor’s Center, in Grand Teton National Park, the Colter Bay Indian Arts Museum exhibits a vast collection of Native American crafts and artifacts. The two-story gallery displays everything, from art to clothing to tools, used by the first inhabitants of the West.

     Jackson Hole Museum
     The Jackson Hole Museum and Jackson Hole Historical Society maintain more than 2,500 artifacts and 7,000 photographs of the early days in the valley. Dive into the oldest dude ranches in the country and get to know the eccentric characters who settled the “Hole” nearly 100 years ago in the museum’s 3,000 square feet of exhibit space.