The Hyrum City Museum, located at 50 W. Main St, is housed underneath the city’s library. The museum provides resources and services in a variety of media to help people in Cache Valley understand their history. The city has had a museum since the 1980’s; up until 2012 it was run by members of the community.
“Our museum is the only one in the valley not run by volunteers,” said Elizabeth Cropper, who holds a Degree in History from Utah State University. “We have a director, Jami J. Van Huss, I am the curator and we have volunteer board of directors and the governing board is the Hyrum City Council.”
Cropper said the city council members are all good to work with and they are the biggest museum in the county.
“We are fortunate the city wants us to be here, they understand the importance in the community,” Cropper said. “When it is community exhibits, I don’t know what I’m going to have until someone brings something in.”
On display they have arrowheads and other relics from the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone, and a diagram of their migration patterns in northern Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. There is also a digital exhibition of Shoshone songs and photos.
“We have a few military exhibits, one of a Hyrum resident who flew with the Dolittle Raiders, and an exhibit with veterans’ donations we made into scrapbooks from people in the area; some have died some are still living.”
“During the school year, the museum hosts Back in Time activities,” Cropper added. “They are 30 minute activities during one week of the month where preschool-aged or even home-schooled kids can come learn about important events in Cache Valley and sometimes world history.”
The children will do crafts, and usually they will get a fun treat.
“For example, this month’s Back in Time is about the history of “Salt Works!” in Utah and how salt works have played an important role in Utah’s history,” she said. “Next month we will be talking about why “Cache Valley is Sweet” by discussing the Amalgamated Sugar Company and sugar beet farming in the valley.”
Van Huss also understands the history of Cache Valley and enjoys talking with visitors about the different displays.
“This year is the 150th anniversary of the driving of the golden spike,” Van Huss said. “We had a Smithsonian exhibit, and we are going to use that space to put a model train display to go with the state celebration. We will have on display 26 trains.”
One of the library board members, Steve Downs, is a model railroader and he agreed to help with the display.
Hyrum averages about 4,000 visitors to the museum each year.
If people want to know about any of Hyrum City Museum’s upcoming events, including new exhibit openings and kids activities, they can look the museum up at hyrumcitymuseum.org or like @hyrumcitymuseum on Facebook.