National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form

More Info

National Historic Landmarks listing information

Expedition Island Park, located in Green River, Wyoming, is the site where Major John Wesley Powell started two expeditions down the Green and Colorado Rivers to explore the remaining territory of the continental United States that was as of yet unexplored by European-Americans. The first expedition took place in 1869 (and no evidence has been found that departed from the island) and the second in 1971. The expeditions initiated a new scientific approach to study and manage the American West. New concepts of conservation, land and water management, and geological surveying, among others, began with the expeditions. The site was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1968. The park is now a place for recreation.

Expedition Island

Experience some of the historic buildings in Green River's Historic District. From 19th century expeditions to mid 20th century hotels there is something for every history fan.

Downtown Green River Walking Tour

Admin

The post office was built in 1931 and designed by James Wetmore and Thomas Hyrum in the Classical Revival style. The need for a post office was recognized for years but it wasn't until the late 1920s that the project finally moved forward. It was build under the Elliot Act, a pre-New Deal economic recovery plan. As was common at the time the building is of neo-classical design and is one of three buildings in Green River on the National Register of Historic Places. The building now houses the Sweetwater County Historical Museum.  Established in 1967, the museum is housed in a renovated 1931 post office building and contains a collection of several thousand artifacts, a large historical photograph collection, and local history research material.Discover the rich cultural heritage of southwestern Wyoming at the Sweetwater County Historical Museum. Explore the stories of Native Americans, explorers, fur trappers, travelers of overland trails, railroad workers, coal miners, cowboys, sheepherders, homesteaders, business people, trona miners and oil and gas workers.Sweetwater County's history began long before written records. In prehistoric times the landscape was swampy and inhabited by great dinosaurs. Thousands of years later Native Americans, mostly Shoshone and Ute, claimed the land. The first white men moving through the area with regularity were the mountain men. The first Rocky Mountain Rendezvous was held in 1825 in Sweetwater County, as was a later gathering in 1834 that is said to have been the largest rendezvous ever. Several major emigrant trails passed through the county including the Oregon, California, Mormon, Overland, and Cherokee Trails, as well as the Pony Express Trail, 1861 transcontinental telegraph line and Ben Holladay's Central Overland Express stage line. Vitally important to the history of the county was the coming of the transcontinental railroad in 1868. This was instrumental in the creation and development of Sweetwater County's two major population centers, Green River and Rock Springs. Green River was the major railroad town due to the nearness of a water supply, while Rock Springs became the coal mining center of the county.

Housed in Green River, Wyoming's former federal post office, the Sweetwater County Historical Society Museum preserves and interprets the natural and cultural history of southwestern Wyoming. It contains thousands of artifacts, a large historical photograph collection, and local research materials. The museum's exhibits explore the state's history from millions of years ago to the present day. The building itself was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

Sweetwater County Historical Museum

The St. John’s Episcopal Church was the third church building to be built in the town of Green River. It is the oldest one still standing.  The Episcopal Church of Green River first held its services in the courtroom of the courthouse in December 1883. The St. John’s Episcopal Church opened its doors in 1892. The church is a wooden-frame building with a gable roof with bargeboards having exposed overhand eaves. There are elaborate wooden shingle designs on the steeple, with brackets on the upper ledge or cornice of the bell tower and pedestal for the steeple. The gothic windows and back door to the study have curved, triangular, stained-glass window circles with three wooden dividers holding and separating the four pieces of glass. There is a cross-shaped finial on the spire and a circular finial on the gable. The study is a wooden frame attached to the northeast portion of the church with a gable roof and exposed overhead eaves. There is a single interior chimney. The Episcopalians left the building in 1970. Beginning in 1976 the building was used a Senior Citizen’s Center until 1979 when it was purchased by the Casa de Oracion congregation.

Church services for The Episcopal Church of Green River were held in the courthouse in 1883. The St. John's Episcopal Church opened in 1892. It was the 3rd church to be built in Green River and the oldest local church still standing.

The Episcopalians left the building in 1970. Beginning in 1976 the building was used a Senior Citizen’s Center until 1979 when it was purchased by the Casa de Oracion congregation.


Casa De Oracion

Thomas Welch and Dr. J.W. Hawk built the building 1919, naming it by combining their names into "Tomahawk." It is in a strong historic location, located along the historic main street near the depot, and dominates the City's skyline. The building housed numerous businesses including a hotel, business offices, pharmacy, bank, tavern, utility office, department stores-including a J.C. Penney, jewelry store, appliance store, furniture store, meat market, trophy shop, pool hall and bowling alley, to name a few. In 1929 it became the first Green River business to use neon signage. A basement fire nearly caused disaster for the landmark. Today it is used in much the same manner it was originally designed to do, hosting a number of businesses on the ground floor. The 3-story brick hotel still bears ghost signs on the upper portions of the building.

In 1919 this landmark of downtown Green River was built by Thomas Welch and Dr. J.W. Hawk. The 3-story brick hotel got its name from the combination of the founders "Tom" and "Dr. Hawk". The building housed numerous businesses, and was the first business in Green River to use neon signage in 1929. A basement fire nearly caused disaster for the landmark.

Tomahawk Hotel

The Morris Mercantile was built in 1891 by Edward J. Morris, son of Esther Hobart Morris and twin of Robert C. Morris. The mercantile served a number of roles including housing the general store, professional offices, the post office, and Morris State Bank. The building burned down on March 25, 1917, and was a total loss. It was later replaced by the Stanley Hotel and Isis theater. Edward and Robert Morris both lived in downtown Green River and were business partners. Both of their homes still stand near the Sweetwater County Courthouse and appear in the Green River Historical Tour. Edward Morris was the first mayor of Green River, and signed the Wyoming State Constitution on September 5, 1889. Edward Morris was re-elected in 1892, 1896, and 1900. He died in September of 1902. Robert C. Morris was active in Cheyenne in the 1880s serving as stenographer for the district court and private secretary to Governors Hale, Warren, and Richards. Robert Morris was responsible for grants for the Carnegie libraries in Green River and Cheyenne, acquiring the land for the State Miscellaneous and Law Library, and the free county library system. He also founded the Wyoming State Historical Society and was the organization's secretary. Construction of the current building started in 1919 and the Stanley Hotel and Isis Theater opened in 1921. Apart from the theater the hotel had space for three other businesses. The Isis Theater remained open until the Star Twin opened on Uinta Drive. Today the marquis of the Isis Theater can still be seen on the building.

The Morris Mercantile was built in 1891 by Edward J. Morris. He was the son of Esther Hobart Morris who was the first female Justice of the Peace. Edward Morris was the first mayor of Green River. The mercantile served a number of roles including housing the general store, professional offices, the post office, and Morris State Bank. The building burned down in 1917. Construction of the current building started in 1919, the Stanley Hotel and Isis Theater opened in 1921. The theater remained open until the Star Twin opened on Uinta Drive.

Stanley Hotel and Isis Theater (Morris Mercantile)

A few German brewers operated breweries on the site before&nbsp;Gaensslen. The first brewer, Adam Braum, opened his business in 1872.&nbsp;Gaensslen's business, called Green River Brewery, was successful until prohibition forced him to make non-alcoholic beer in 1919. He died in 1931, two years before prohibition ended. An Irish&nbsp;con-artist, Tom Flaherty, opened a brewery in 1936 but only wanted to make a quick profit and he fled to Canada soon after. He was the last person to make beer in the building. Several businesses have used it since then.&nbsp;

Constructed in 1900, the Sweetwater Brewery is a historic building located in Green River, Wyoming. It was designed by German brewer Hugo Gaensslen, who arrived in Green River around 1891. Gaensslen was inspired by the Chicago water tower and designed the brewery to have several castle-like turrets on facade of the building. Beer is no longer made there, but a bar, Sweetwater Brewery, is housed in the building, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Sweetwater Brewery

This land was platted in 1877 under the Original Plat of Green River. It is known as the "Spinner House" for it's original builder, or the "Gaensslen house" after the famous long time residents. Founding dates differ, with some reporting it as 1880, the date listed in the Museum's files, while the Sweetwater County Assessor's office reports a date of 1900. Spinner operate the Sweetwater Brewery for 10 years after moving to Green River in 1873. It is then reported he married a much younger woman and built a house in the hope it would keep her interested in Green River. If so it did not work and the two left for Salt Lake City, with Spinner working in real estate, until his death in 1920. Spinner sold the house and brewery to Hugo Gaensslen in 1891. Hugo Gaensslen, his wife and three daughters, lived in this house where they could oversee the 1900 building of the grand brewery, part of which still stands today. Gaensslen was active in the civics of early Green River, serving as mayor.

 This property was platted in 1877 under the Original Plat Green River. Local historian Jim June refers to it as the “Spinner House,” after the builder but it is also known as the Gaensslen house, referring to the long-time residents.  According to histories that include this house, it was built in 1880 by Karl Spinner. It is reported that Spinner built the house to appease his wife, but they ultimately moved to Salt Lake City. Spinner sold the house and brewery to Hugo Gaensslen in 1891. 

Downtown Green River Walking Tour

Expedition Island

Introduction

Images

Sources

Additional Information