Commissioners Urge Two Rawlins Museums to Merge

MAY 27, 2025 |

Photo – Wyoming Frontier Prison – by Matt Copeland Bigfoot99

To save money, county officials have urged the Carbon County Museum to explore the possibility of moving into the Wyoming Frontier Prison.

Wyoming’s first state penitentiary, now known as the Wyoming Frontier Prison, or Old Pen, finished construction in 1901. The prison, located at 500 West Walnut Street in Rawlins, operated for 80 years, finally shutting its doors in 1981. During that time, approximately 13,500 people, including eleven women, were incarcerated. Fourteen executions were conducted at the facility. In 1988, the historic jail was turned into a museum.

During the May 20^th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Wyoming Frontier Prison Historic Site Director Tina Hill provided her annual report and budget presentation. Hill said the Old Pen hosted approximately 15,000 visitors last year, thanks to the $32,500 provided by the county.

Hill acknowledged that property tax relief measures and overall lower tax revenue necessitate budget cuts.

With budget cuts on the table, Hill is requesting $2,500 less from the county in the upcoming fiscal year. The money will allow the historic prison to continue operating into the future.

The remaining funding will come from tour fees, grants, and various community sponsorships and fundraisers.

Hill said the county’s financial contribution enabled the Wyoming Frontier Prison to complete necessary maintenance, lease two billboards along Interstate 80, and convert the historic guards’ quarters into an exhibition space and office.

The Historic Site Director said attendance was up in 2024, with nearly 15,000 tourists visiting the Old Pen. Those visitors, Hill said, supported local businesses.

Hill said she has been working on numerous grant opportunities. However, recent changes in federal grant policies have limited the availability of those funds.

As part of the county’s funding application, Hill was asked if the Wyoming Frontier Prison could merge with another county entity to reduce costs. The Historic Site Director responded that the Old Pen works closely with the Carbon County Museum on events and fundraisers, but consolidating the two entities is not possible.

Commission Vice Chairwoman Gwynn Bartlett said the county owns approximately 60 to 70 buildings. The state recommends setting aside 2.5% of the buildings’ value for maintenance, a cost that would amount to millions, which the county can’t afford. Vice Chairwoman Bartlett asked Hill why the Old Pen isn’t considering merging with another entity.

Historic Site Director Hill responded the museum is too large to fit inside of the Wyoming Frontier Prison. The only space available for the museum would require costly safety and accessibility upgrades.

Hill added the gymnasium doesn’t offer as much space as the current Carbon County Museum building.

Vice Chair Bartlett said the Old Pen can’t simply rule out the possibility of joining with another county agency. Funds are decreasing and county government must find ways to save money.

Old Pen Joint Power Board Chairman Dennis Carpenter said the Frontier Prison has investigated the possibility of moving the Carbon County Museum onto the prison grounds. However, that would require the construction of an entirely new building, which would be costly and not alleviate the county’s building maintenance concerns.

Carpenter added the Wyoming Frontier Prison is open to the possibility of merging with the county museum, but said he doesn’t believe it’s economically feasible.

Vice Chair Bartlett stated representatives from the museum and Old Pen must conduct an in-person tour of the prison to determine if the museum could relocate there. Commissioner Sue Jones agreed and said maintaining two historic sites in such close proximity is not financially sustainable.

The Board of Carbon County Commissioners directed Wyoming Frontier Prison Historic Site Director Tina Hill to keep working with the Rawlins Museum on securing space at the Old Pen. Carbon County Museum Director Tom Mensik was also instructed to look into downsizing the museum’s collection to fit within the historic prison grounds.