In the Gallery:

No Time for Tears: The Life & Art of Dixie Lynne Reece

The Campbell County Rockpile Museum is excited to announce the long-awaited opening of our original exhibit No Time For Tears: The Life & Art of Dixie Lynne Reece. Curated by Museum Volunteer Julie Tachick, this display tells the story of local ranch woman and regional artist Dixie Reece.

Dixie Reece lived a life of hard work, dedication, and courage. From the 1950s to the 1990s, she seamlessly combined her love of ranch work along with her joy of painting. When tragedy struck by way of a “bucking horse accident” in 1970, she was left confined to a wheelchair. Ranch work continued and art became even more important. Her accident didn’t stifle her creativity, affection for animals, or will to live a full life.

“My hope is that the exhibition tells the story of Dixie’s art & life,” says Curator Julie Tachick. “That it not only reflects the breadth of her artistic talent and eye for beauty but also captures the heart and essence of who she was and the impact she had on those around her.”

“I was fortunate enough to meet Dixie back in 2016 to discuss her artwork and begin discussions on a permanent home for her collection,” says Rockpile Museum Director Robert Henning. “It has taken a few years, but we couldn’t be more excited to share her collection and her story with the people of Campbell County and our visitors. My hope is that everyone who sees this exhibit will feel the same joy, hope, and peace that these paintings brought to Dixie and take a little bit of that with them as they go. I’d like to thank everyone who has worked to make this exhibit possible and especially Julie for her outstanding work to make this display a reality.”

No Time For Tears: The Life & Art of Dixie Lynne Reece will open during a public reception on Thursday, June 22nd at 6:30 p.m. There will be no charge for the reception and light refreshments will be served. For more information on the exhibit or the Rockpile Museum, please call us at 307-682-5723.

In the Annex:

Howdy! From Big Wonderful Wyoming

The Wyoming State Museum’s traveling exhibit, Howdy! From Big Wonderful Wyoming, will be on display at the Campbell County Rockpile Museum in Gillette from June 4th to September 2023. 

This exhibit considers the postcard as a communication device and advertiser of Wyoming's natural and cultural landscape. Color and black and white images illustrate how postcards have promoted Wyoming as a "vacation dreamland" and a "wonderland of the West."

The Wyoming State Museum offers travelling exhibits for rent free of charge to museums, libraries, and other cultural institutions. For rental or exhibit information please contact Carlos Santos, Curator of Exhibits, at carlos.santos@wyo.gov.

Please call (307) 682-5723 for more information. 

Now on Display in the Museum's Main Room:

Back To Business

Limited communication methods in the earliest years of Campbell County meant that business owners needed to find innovative ways to market their establishments. From matchbooks and toy trucks to key rings and calendars, advertising methods have been creative and plentiful over the past century. Advertising is meant to persuade, and the themes and techniques that were used in advertising reveal a part of the nation's history.

Created in conjunction with the Smithsonian traveling exhibit, “The Way We Worked,” this display highlights the expansive and rapidly changing business history of Campbell County. Often following the boom and bust cycles of the region, a wide range of businesses have operated in Campbell County, including nearly 100 cafés and restaurants, more than four dozen hotels and motels, and a realm of grocers and gas stations.