Welcome to the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum
About the Museum:
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, he 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.
Our Mission:
Our museum is dedicated to following the late Jim Gatchell’s vision of preserving the history of Johnson County, Wyoming, with the emphasis on its Frontier Era, through the collection and conservation of related art, and artifacts. In the interest of educating museum visitors, the staff will continue to develop projects including interpretive exhibits, publications, and programs which focus on the Powder River Country of Johnson County.
The Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum is handicap accessible. Please call the museum if you have any questions.
