The Sheridan Heritage Center's mission is to preserve the uniqueness of Sheridan through the acquisition, preservation and interpretation of the historic properties in Sheridan County.  The Sheridan Heritage Center has impacted The Sheridan Inn, home of Buffalo Bill with fund raisers, including the annual Buffalo Bill Days and Wild West Show.  The Sheridan Heritage Center submitted a successful application to the National Park service for a National District designation of the Sheridan Railroad District.  

The Sheridan Heritage Center, a non-profit organization, was founded and incorporated in 1983.  It's original mission was to preserve history and to explore possible uses for the Sheridan Inn which was for sale at that time.  The Sheridan Inn did not sell but was eventually donated to the Children's Hospital in Denver by its owner.  At that point, the Sheridan Heritage Board disbanded and remained idle as an organization for several years.

SHERIDAN INN PROJECT

[click for larger view of slideshow photos]

1990

It was announced that the Sheridan Inn was in a bankruptcy proceeding and its future was threatened.  Chamber of Commerce Director Carole Perkins and State Senator Della Herbst revitalized the Sheridan Heritage Center for not for profit organization, and installed a new board of Directors.  The Sheridan Heritage Center convinced the City and the County to form a Joint Powers Board.  The Joint Powers Board received a Wyoming Farm Loan Board $100,000 loan and a $100,000 grant to purchase the Inn.  Once purchased, The Sheridan Heritage Center took over the operation, maintenance, and restoration of the Inn, as well as the yearly loan payments of $15,000 to the Wyoming Farm Loan Board.

1991 - 1996

The Sheridan Heritage Center initially opened the Inn for Tours and catered events.  In response to public demand, the bar and restaurant were opened and contracted out to individual operators.  Part time managers were hired to oversee the operations of the Inn for the Sheridan Heritage Center.  During that time period, the Sheridan Heritage Center raised $1.5 million dollars for renovation costs to stabilize the exterior structure of the Historic Sheridan Inn.  For those efforts, the Wyoming State Historical Society awarded the Maurine Carley Memorial Award to the Sheridan Heritage Center, for Historic Preservation.  

The Sheridan Heritage Center took over the food and beverage operations of the Inn based on the recommendations of a consultant.  This resulted in huge financial deficits.  It took the Sheridan Heritage Center several years and many creative fund raisers to recover from those deficits.

The Sheridan Heritage Center acheived financial stability, paid off the Wyoming Farm Loan Board Loan, two years early, and purchased the Sheridan Inn from the Historical Sheridan Inn Joint Powers Board.  During that same year, the Sheridan Heritage Center was awarded the "Save America's Treasures" designation from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  It is one of only three sites within the state of Wyoming to be designated.  The Sheridan Heritage Center also established an endowment fund with the Wyoming Community Foundation for the historic preservation of the exterior of the building.

The Sheridan Heritage Center and the Wyoming Rib and Chop House entered into an agreement for a successful restaurant operation at the Inn.

The Sheridan Heritage Center submitted a successful application to the National Park service for a National District designation of the Sheridan Railroad District.  This project was a result of collaboration with the University of Wyoming Outreach program for American Studies.