Museum’s Block Party Will Host Special Guests

MAY 15, 2025 |

Photo – Guest announcement – Courtesy Carbon County Museum

The Carbon County Museum has announced that members of the Wyoming Historical Society will attend next month’s block party in Rawlins.

On Saturday, June 7^th, the Carbon County Museum is hosting an event called the Carbon County Block Party. The museum is inviting the community to come out and experience offerings from a variety of different vendors.

Last week, the Carbon County Museum announced the Wyoming Historical Society would attend as a special guest at the block party.

Bigfoot99 spoke to the organization’s Executive Director, Alexandra Philp, and Executive Board President, Beki Speas, about the Historical Society and what they hope to accomplish by attending the Carbon County Block Party.

Executive Board President Beki Speas explained the Wyoming Historical Society, founded in 1953, is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the study of the state’s history.

Speas said the Wyoming Historical Society is dedicated to preserving historic sites and documenting the oral histories of those who call the Cowboy State home.

In 2014, the Wyoming Historical Society adopted a new goal to increase public outreach. As the organization’s first full-time employee, Executive Director Alexandra Philp said her role is to educate the public about the services provided by the Historical Society.

Every year, the Wyoming Historical Society offers a rewards program to honor individuals who document the state’s history through publications, art, and podcasts. Winners in each category receive a plaque and $250 in prize money.

Executive Board President Speas said historians from across the state have submitted nominations for the 2025 awards, including those from Carbon County.

Additionally, the Wyoming Historical Society offers yearly grants to help historians access research materials and publish their findings. Executive Director Philp said academics from around the world have used the Lola Homsher Research Grant to study in Wyoming.

The Wyoming Historical Society has also been a longtime supporter of the annual Wyoming History Day.

Carbon County Museum Director Tom Mensik is a member of the Wyoming Historical Society. When Mensik informed the Society’s board about the Carbon County Block Party, Executive Director Philp recognized that it matched her organization’s goal to interact more with the public.

The Wyoming Historical Society will have a booth inside the Rawlins museum during this year’s Carbon County Block Party. Speas explained the booth will contain a variety of promotional materials.

Both Speas and Executive Director Philp said attending the Carbon County Block Party will allow them to learn more about our part of the state.

Alongside the Wyoming Historical Society, Mountain Man Kenneth Hall will present a beaver-catching demonstration and discuss the lifestyle and history of 19th-century mountain men.

The Carbon County Museum’s block party is Saturday, June 7th, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 904 West Walnut Street in Rawlins. Admission is free.

Email the Carbon County Museum at Info@carboncountymuseum.org if you would like to be a vendor during the event. All vendor applications must be received by May 31^st.