07/02/2026
Another community is hosting a screening of BEFORE WYOMING: THE WEST IN 1776, which means another chance to watch this powerful documentary as we celebrate America 250!
If you are in Meeteetse on July 8, we hope that you will join Meeteetse Museums for a reading of the Declaration of Independence, followed by the screening.
BEFORE WYOMING expands the story of the American Revolution beyond the eastern colonies to the vast interior of the continent. It explores the Northern Rockies and Great Plains as a living, dynamic world shaped by thriving Indigenous nations, shifting alliances, and the early arrival of horses, fi****ms, disease, and trade.
Through historians, archaeologists, Native knowledge holders, and young people from the region, the film connects landscapes, artifacts, oral histories, and contemporary perspectives to reveal a hidden chapter of American history. Set against the nation’s 250th anniversary, it offers a fresh and meaningful look at what was happening in the West when the United States was just beginning.
Learn more and watch the trailer here: https://www.wyomingpbs.org/before-wyoming/
Mark your calendars for an unforgettable national milestone happening right here in our community. Join us on July 8th at 3:50 PM at the Meeteetse School for "Sharing the Spirit of America." Exactly 250 years after the Declaration of Independence was read aloud to the public for the first time on July 8, 1776, Americans across all 50 states, five territories, Washington D.C., and U.S. minor outlying islands will stand together to read it in unison. Initiated by the Hawai‘i America250 Commission, our time zone’s synchronized reading will begin at 4:00 PM, led by Rev. George Pasek.
Following this powerful nationwide reading, we are hosting a special watch party for the brand-new documentary, "Before Wyoming: The West in 1776." This documentary enlarges the narrative of 1776 America, looking beyond the eastern seaboard to the vast interior of the continent, where another story of dramatic upheaval was unfolding.
The film explores the overlooked history of the American West during the Revolutionary era: a time when this vast region between the coasts was little more than a dreamscape for European and American expansion, sight unseen. Far from empty, these lands were home to thriving Indigenous nations with complex political systems, economies, spiritual traditions, and artistic practices, recorded in Winter Counts, hide paintings, and oral histories passed down through generations.
Before Wyoming: The West in 1776 was produced by Caldera Productions, Wyoming PBS, and Wyoming Humanities, with support from Wyoming’s Semiquincentennial Celebration. By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.
Treats and refreshments will be available.
