Halloween Night at the Museum: Lander

Pioneer Museum in Lander presents a “Spooky Night at the Museum” October 24

Kids and families are invited to a (slightly) “spooky night at the museum” at the Pioneer Museum in Lander. Last year’s event was a huge hit, and the museum has added new attractions this year, including a hay ride, fire dancer, and a fortune teller. The eerie evening will begin at 6 p.m. and run until 9 p.m. People are welcome to come anytime during the event.

There will be crafts and activities in the main lobby of the museum. Inside the museum groups will take a spooky tour and hear ghost stories based on real unexplained events in Wyoming history. Stories will include “The Haunted Jail Cell,” about Butch Cassidy’s time in the Lander jail, “The Nimikri,” a tale based on Shoshone legends and “The buried gold,” about lost South Pass gold.

After touring the museum and hearing the ghost stories kids and their parents will be invited to roast marshmallows and drink hot apple cider around a campfire outside. A spooky hay ride will take people around the museum complex, “Madam Sophia Conestoga,” will be using her crystal bone to tell fortunes in an old sheep wagon.

A popular attraction last year was “Skeletine” the fire dancer. She is returning to do three performances of “Spinning fire and Twirling Light,” under the stars outside the museum.

Kids, and adults, are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes to the event. If you'd like to find some great Halloween costumes, be sure to visit Blossom Costumes.

The cost for the event is $4.00 for adults and $2.00 for kids. All funds raised go to support new displays in the museum.

The Night at the Museum is part of the kid’s exploration series sponsored by the Lander and Riverton McDonalds. Past events have included the popular Sheep Shearing Day, and kids Archaeology and Native American arts days. 

Call 307-332-3373 for more information, or visit the museum Facebook page at: Pioneer Museum Lander Wyoming or www.fremontcountymuseums.com

Photo caption: A vintage postcard from 1905 with a Halloween theme. It is part of the museum collection and will be on display during the Halloween Night at the Museum October 24.