Local Couple Receives History Award

MAY 29, 2025 |

Photo – John and Cathy MacPherson – Courtesy Alliance for Historic Wyoming

The Alliance for Historic Wyoming has named John and Cathy MacPherson as this year’s recipients of the Mary Humstone Excellence in Historic Preservation Award.

Founded in 2005, the Alliance for Historic Wyoming is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving historic places and spaces. Executive Director Megan Stanfill explained the organization works to protect culturally important buildings and sites across the state.

On Monday, May 26^th, the Alliance for Historic Wyoming announced the winner of this year’s Mary Humstone Excellence in Historic Preservation Award winners: John and Cathy MacPherson. Executive Director Stanfill said Mary Humstone is a preservationist who helped found the Alliance for Historic Wyoming. Last year, the Alliance honored Humstone for her 19 years of service on its Board of Directors by naming the historic award after her.

Stanfill said the Mary Humstone Excellence in Historic Preservation Award is given to people who have taken steps to preserve Wyoming’s history. The Alliance Executive Director explained that John and Cathy MacPherson were chosen to receive this year’s award for their contributions to the Little Snake River Museum.

Thanks to a generous financial donation from the MacPhersons, the Little Snake River Museum was able to construct the MacPherson Sheep Center. The barn-like structure houses the MacPhersons’ unique collection of five historic sheep wagons and sheep ranching equipment, allowing visitors to see how the industry developed over time.

Alliance for Historic Wyoming Executive Director Stanfill explained historians are increasingly focused on preserving important equipment alongside significant buildings and sites. The MacPhersons and the Little Snake River Museum have done a great job of safeguarding the artifacts for future generations.

The MacPhersons will join Jackie Dorothy of Thermopolis, last year’s recipient of the Mary Humstone Excellence in Historic Preservation Award. Stanfill said Dorothy was instrumental in relocating the Middleton Schoolhouse, built in the 1920s, to the Hot Springs County Museum, offering modern schoolchildren a glimpse into the history of education.

The Alliance for Historic Wyoming will present John and Cathy MacPherson with the second annual Mary Humstone Excellence in Historic Preservation Award on Saturday, June 7^th, at the Little Snake River Museum, located at 13 County Road 561 in Savery. The event begins at 2:00 p.m. and will feature light refreshments.

Alliance for Historic Wyoming Executive Director Megan Stanfill said she hopes the award inspires more people to dedicate themselves to saving the history of the Cowboy State.