FEBRUARY 5, 2025|
Photo – Wyoming’s Semi Quincentennial Celebration poster – Courtesy State of Wyoming
The Carbon County 250th Anniversary Celebration Committee has officially been established.
Grand Encampment Museum Director Tim Nicklas and local author Candy Moulton contacted the Board of Carbon County Commissioners to form a committee to plan events for next year’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Two weeks ago, the board was uncertain how to set up a county-wide celebration committee but knew that one was required to receive grants through Governor Mark Gordon’s Wyoming Semi Quincentennial Planning Task Force.
July 4, 2026, marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. To commemorate the occasion, the federal government has set aside $8 million to help states plan their anniversary celebrations.
During this week’s meeting, Commission Chairman Travis Moore took the first step to form an anniversary committee by reading a proclamation declaring Carbon County’s intention to participate in the historic event.
Continuing to read from the proclamation, Chairman Moore said the 250th anniversary committee will be made up of members chosen by the board from across the entire county. Additionally, the committee will be responsible for planning and promoting any events leading up to and during the year 2026 and provide regular updates to the board.
Tim Nicklas and Candy Moulton were joined by Carbon County Museum Director Tom Mensik, with Moulton offering to chair the committee.
Commissioner Sue Jones instructed the volunteers to reach out to every agency and municipality in the county for more members.
Commissioner John Johnson said Elk Mountain Museum Director Angie Hobbs has expressed interest in joining the 250th anniversary committee.
The next step was to determine the makeup of the celebration committee. Commissioner Johnson said the taskforce must represent the entire county.
Commissioner Jones said she expects it will be easy to find volunteers for the anniversary committee.
Candy Moulton, who worked on Wyoming’s 100th anniversary celebration in 1990, said the committee should be made up of five core members with a subcommittee in each municipality.
Moulton said she and Grand Encampment Museum Director Tim Nicklas contacted the county about the 250th anniversary committee because the state is offering up to $10,000 in grant money to counties for celebration preparations. With the grant deadline fast approaching. Moulton said the committee doesn’t have a lot of time to prepare.
Commissioners took action this week to name a committee to work on the project here in Carbon County. The board voted to select Carbon County Museum Director Tom Mensik, Grand Encampment Museum Director Tim Nicklas, Elk Mountain Museum Director Angie Hobbs, Candy Moulton, and a yet to be named representative from the Little Snake River Museum to head the county’s 250th anniversary committee. Commissioner Sue Jones will serve as the board’s liaison to the task force.
The federal government has set aside $8 million to help states plan their anniversary celebrations. Here, in Wyoming, Governor Gordon used the federal funds to establish the Wyoming Semi Quincentennial Planning Task Force to oversee the state’s festivities. The Task Force is also offering grants to counties with “an officially recognized county committee”.
