Museum at the Bighorns: All American Indian Days 1953–1984 Exhibit

The Museum at the Bighorns opened its summer exhibit, All American Indian Days 1953–1984, at its downtown Sheridan location on July 2. According to the Museum, for more than 50 years, All American Indian Days in Sheridan, stood as one of the largest and most important intertribal gatherings in the United States. At the heart of this annual celebration was the Miss Indian America Pageant, which crowned 28 remarkable young Native women as ambassadors of beauty, intelligence, talent, and cultural pride.

While appearing on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse, Museum at the Bighorns Director Carrie Edinger and Operation Manager Chip King said to make the exhibit happen, partnerships were formed to ensure history was accurate, stories gathered and told and items were available for display. 

Bringing together the collections and stories to form the Museum at the Bighorns All American Indian Days 1953–1984 Exhibit required members and staff from the Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library Wyoming Room, the Miss Indian America Collective, members of the Crow and Northern Cheyenne tribes, WYO Rodeo Royalty and the Big Horn City Historical Society.

The exhibit, which runs through Dec. 23, highlights the history of Sheridan’s annual All American Indian Days celebration and the Miss Indian America Pageant through personal artifacts, photographs and local archives. But the museum also tells the continuing stories of these former Miss Indian America title holders. 

C. Edinger/C. King   

Supported by a Wyoming 250 grant, the exhibit is part of Sheridan County’s America 250 celebrations. Thanks to a generous donation from the Homer A. and Mildred S. Scott Foundation, admission to the Museum at the Bighorns is free through Aug. 31.

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