TUESDAY, August 4, 2026|
Photo – Carbon County Museum in Rawlins – Bigfoot99 file photo
The Carbon County Museum is temporarily closed while crews work to repair a suspected sewer line break.
Yesterday morning, the Carbon County Museum Facebook page posted, “The old pipes at the Museum have finally given away. Unfortunately, this means the Carbon County Museum is closed temporarily.”
Museum Director Tom Mensik said the building, formerly a Latter‑day Saints church constructed in the late 1940s, is showing its age, with persistent, but small water leaks in the basement. However, Mensik said last week, Museum Curator Andrew Webster found a more substantial leak. County maintenance crews later determined that the building’s sewer line was backing up into the basement.
Plumbers unsuccessfully attempted to clear the blockage last Friday. Mensik said the issue appears to be more serious than expected.
The building is owned by the county, which is responsible for all maintenance costs.
In the meantime, the Carbon County Museum is closed until further notice. Director Mensik said he made the call out of concern for the health of both staff and patrons.
Mensik assured the public that none of the museum’s exhibits were harmed by the flooding. He said the damage is entirely limited to the basement, where only nonessential items are stored.
Mensik said he will keep the public informed as repairs move forward. He encouraged residents to stop by the museum’s display at the Carbon County Fairgrounds during the closure.
Update: The Carbon County Museum reopened the following morning.
