Wax museum could come to city if spot can be found
By Katie Roenigk
Staff Writer

A familiar tourist attraction could be coming to Riverton.
Lew Diehl, of Riverton’s Wind River Heritage Center, in recent months has been eying the wax figures exhibited for years as the Old West Wax Museum in Thermopolis. The exhibit was housed in Jackson for many years before that.
Each set piece is abut 15 feet wide, 10 feet deep and about eight feet high, Diehl said. They depict scenes from the history of Wyoming (some more historically accurate than others) from the Cattle Kate story to the Mormon handcart pioneers.
“When I saw them for the first time, I was amazed at how appropriate it is for Riverton,” Diehl said. “Most of the themes fit into the history of the Wind River and Sweetwater valleys.
“I think it fits in with what the heritage center is trying to do, to preserve the old history of the area particularly through the 1800s.”
Thermopolis had been showing the exhibit for about a decade as the Old West Wax Museum, but that facility closed in October. Thermopolis city leaders are ready to give up the 30 or so wax sculptures, which are worth as much as $3 million. The original owners of the exhibit have approved the city-to-city transfer.
This will not be the first time the wax figures have traveled to Riverton. Diehl said they were stored here several years ago when their original home in Jackson became unavailable.
“I wasn’t able to get any interest in somehow getting it going then,” Diehl said. “So they gave it to Thermopolis.”
Local real estate developer Rich Emond, during a 2009 meeting of the Riverton Economic and Community Development Association, said he is happy the city has another opportunity to utilize the statues.
“Very seldom do we get a second chance like this,” Emond said. “We screwed up, and I couldn’t believe we lost it. But the opportunity is back.”
The RECDA group in October voted unanimously to support the Wind River Heritage Center in developing the wax museum in Riverton, and Diehl said the adoption of the displays aligns with the purpose of RECDA.
“I’m a believer in community development as well as economic and educational development,” Diehl said.
“I think this would be one more thing that people could go see and take their company to or take parties too. It’s just another thing that would make Riverton that much nicer.”
Though the dioramas are available for exhibition in Riverton, Diehl said it will take some work and financing to transport them through the Wind River Canyon and find a place to keep them once they arrive.
Diehl estimated that an exhibit space of at least 4,000 square feet would be needed to exhibit the dioramas properly.
He said he was open to ideas and offers from residents of the county.
People who would like to help with the acquisition of the artwork can call the Wind River Heritage Center at 856-0706.
Diehl also will host a dinner meeting from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, at the heritage center, 1075 S. Federal Blvd.
— Thermopolis Independent Record publisher Keith Domke contributed to this report.