Save the Date: Fort Phil Kearny New Addition Ribbon Cutting

Save the date for the Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources ribbon-cutting at Fort Phil Kearny on May 17 at 11 a.m., to celebrate the completion of the new addition and remodel of the FPK Interpretive Center.

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon will be speaking, and visitors can enjoy tours of the fort and temporary exhibits.

Shari Shada, Site Superintendent.

This new addition and remodel was made possible by a grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the opening of the Fort Phil Kearny Interpretive Center, a remarkable addition to our State Parks that will enhance our understanding of this area’s rich history,” said Dave Glenn, director of Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources. “The Center launches visitors into the landscape that shaped the wild narratives of the Indian Wars. We invite everyone to join us in this celebration and explore the Center’s many educational opportunities.”

The Helmsley Charitable Trust’s Rural Health Care program is committed to improving health care access and outcomes in rural America. Spending time outdoors is keenly important to both physical and mental health.

“The Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site holds a significant cultural and historical value,” said Walter Panzirer, a trustee for the Helmsley Charitable Trust. “We are excited to celebrate the opening of this interpretive center that will foster community, share essential perspectives, and create opportunities to better understand Wyoming’s history for years to come.”

The event will allow community members and history enthusiasts to come together and celebrate the opening of the new Interpretive Center.

The event begins at 11 a.m., and at 11:30 visitors will be welcomed to the new center with remarks from Gov. Mark Gordon and representatives from the Helmsley Charitable Trust, the Bozeman Trail Association, and Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony and photo opportunities will occur at 11:55 a.m., followed by refreshments and guided facility tours.

The Fort Phil Kearny Interpretive Center has been developed to launch visitors into the site’s primary “artifact” — the landscape. Two major Indian Wars battle sites and the location of the largest stockaded fort in the West are interpreted across 1,200 acres in the breathtaking Piney Creek Valley.

In the coming year, the Center will house permanent exhibits on Red Cloud’s War and the significance of Fort Phil Kearny during crucial moments in the story of the American West. At the May 17 event, temporary exhibits will be displayed, providing further insights into the region’s historical and cultural heritage.

The event is made possible through the generous support of the Helmsley Charitable Trust and other valued community partners.

For more information about the Interpretive Center and its offerings, contact Wyoming State Parks’ District Manager Misty Moore at 307-620-0331 or misty.moore@wyo.gov.

Attendance is free and open to the public.