Formerly known as the Cowley Pioneer Museum, the Heritage Center has expanded its mission and its footprint. In 2022, the committee elected to adopt the new name to reflect a broader purpose. And in 2024, when the Town of Cowley moved its offices to a new building next to the Log Gym, the entire historic Administration Building became home to the Heritage Center.
“We recognize the pioneers who established this area, but there continue to be historical events and citizens who bring memorable change to our town beyond the first pioneer settlers. Our mission is to preserve the stories of early settlers but also of all citizens who have lived or are living in Cowley.”
When you visit the museum, you may even find your own name and family preserved in news articles, pictures, obituaries, or memorabilia.
The Building
The Administration Building shortly after construction, circa 1910. Note the hand-carved sandstone columns.
The same building today, serving as the Cowley Heritage Center & Pioneer Museum.
The Administration Building was built around 1910. Bert and Andrew Brown cut the stone, and a contractor known as “Curly” oversaw construction. Nearly 250 tons of sandstone were quarried from the hills north of Cowley and hauled to the site with teams and wagons, laboriously manhandled on and off without any power equipment.
“Two massive stone columns, each of which measures at the base 17 inches and 14 inches at the top and are eight feet two inches in length sit in front of the building. They were cut out of the quarry some four miles north of Cowley in one piece … They spent three solid months of eleven-hour days carving out and shaping the massive stone columns of the building's portico.”
The building was originally constructed for LDS Stake Administration and to hold stake records. Over the decades it served many roles: scout hall in the 1950s, music room for the high school band in the 1960s, a space for tap dancing lessons, genealogy research, and Relief Society meetings. Seminary classes were held on the second floor.
Decline & Restoration
By the late 1960s the building was mostly unused, boarded up, and fell into disrepair for roughly 24 years. In 1992, Stake President Randy Peterson described it in a letter: “Many of the people in the area regard the building as a monument to the resourcefulness and craftsmanship of their grandparents. For this reason, the building has never been razed.”
In 1995, the Town of Cowley applied for grants to restore the building. Funding was awarded in June 1996, matched by the Town with one-cent funds, for a total restoration cost of around $107,000. Construction began in July 1997 and the building was completed and opened for public tours during Cowley Pioneer Day.
“The community of Cowley moved into the newly refurbished historic LDS Church administration building, now being used as Cowley Town Hall and as the Cowley History Center.”
A New Chapter
In 2024, the Town of Cowley built new Town Offices next to the Log Gym. The entire Administration Building — both upstairs and downstairs — now houses the Heritage Center. With the added floor space, recent acquisitions have been put on display, including the pump organ from the White Church, a phonograph from Lawrence and Altha Jensen, and the workbench of George Henry Taggart.
The bell in front of the building is from the tower of the original White Church in Cowley. A Veterans of Foreign Wars monument honoring Cowley residents who served in WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Desert Storm stands on the corner of the lot.
Our Collection
The Cowley Heritage Center has received family records, pictures, and artifacts from many community members. Among the holdings:
Veterans records honoring those from Cowley who served from the Civil War through modern conflicts
School memorabilia from the Big Horn Academy and Cowley High School, including class photographs and records
Pioneer artifacts, photographs, news articles, obituaries, and memorabilia spanning over a century of life in Cowley
The pump organ from the White Church, a phonograph from Lawrence and Altha Jensen, and the workbench of George Henry Taggart
Those contributions are of great value to the community. With the added space, the Heritage Center committee continues to document the people and places that make Cowley a great place to live.
Historic Home Tour
The Heritage Center offers a historic home tour featuring 14 homes built between 1900 and 1910 that still look much the same as they did when they were built.
“We want to honor the original builders and the residents of these homes for building and preserving them.”
Plaques have been placed outside each historic home to identify them as part of Cowley's heritage.
Home
Built
Builder
Recent Resident
Rufus P. Snell Log House310 S. 3rd E.
1901
Brigham L. Tippetts
Hoostie Cook
Taggart Home92 N. Division St.
1903
George Henry Taggart
Ed Croft Family
Edd Johnson Home122 E. 1st South
1904
Edd Johnson
Wells Family
Marchant Wilson Home12 S. Division St.
1905
Charles A. Welch
Kim Wilson Family
Safford Hotel196 N. Division St.
1906
Don Safford
Debbie Wambeke
Sarah Frances Crosby80 E. 2nd S.
1906
Jesse W. Crosby, Jr.
Mac Crosby Family
Sarah Pauline Crosby27 W. Main
1906
Jesse W. Crosby, Jr.
Crosby Family
Ivan Willis Home18 S. 2nd E.
1908
Lemuel Josiah Willis
Ken Blackburn Family
Marion Willis Home
1908
Jesse W. Crosby, Jr.
Under renovation
Orson Peter Frost27 E. 1st N.
1908
Orson Frost
Harper Family
John Stevens212 S. 3rd E.
1909
Rufus P. Snell Sr.
Bisby Home
John Hinckley352 S. Division
1910
Charles Joe Welch
Hinckley Family
Mortensen Hotel83 W. Main
1910
Niels Mortensen
Strom Family
Dr. Edward Croft Home164 S. Division St.
1910
Edward Crosby
Ostler Family
Get Involved
The Heritage Center committee meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 4:00 PM. We welcome new faces, historical donations, and community involvement.
If you have photographs, documents, or artifacts you'd like to contribute, please get in touch.
Want the full story?
Learn about the founding of Cowley, the Sidon Canal, the Big Horn Academy, and the pioneers who built a community from the Wyoming frontier.
