The Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum has been a part of the Buffalo community since 1900 when Jim Gatchell opened a drugstore. The Buffalo Pharmacy was a stopping place for cowboys, lawmen, settlers, cattle barons, and famous army scouts. As a trusted friend of the region’s Native Americans, Jim Gatchell received many gifts representing the culture including guns, war bonnets, tools, medicine bags, bows, arrows, and clothing. Soon local residents were donating mementos of Johnson County’s historic names, places, and events.

After Jim Gatchell’s death in 1954, his family generously donated his collection to the people of Johnson County with the provision that a museum be built to house it. After three years of fundraising the museum was established, and in 2002 the museum achieved national accreditation from the American Association of Museums, now the American Alliance of Museums.

Our Mission:

Our museum is dedicated to sustaining the late Jim Gatchell’s vision of preserving the history of Johnson County, Wyoming, through the collection and conservation of related art and artifacts. We will develop interpretive exhibits, publications, and programs to help educate our visitors on the historical events that shaped modern-day Johnson County.

Our Vision:

To become a nationally-recognized, community-supported museum for local and regional history.

Holdings:

The Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum collection contains over 14,000 artifacts including documents, photographs, firearms, clothing, wagons, and items from the Buffalo Pharmacy.

The museum allows qualified researchers appropriate access to the art, archives, and artifacts. Access to the collection is by appointment only, generally two weeks in advance. A museum staff member must be present during the researcher’s visit. Research requests in person or by letter, telephone, or email are welcome.

Subject Strengths:

Materia Medica

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