Rediscover the Winds
Rediscover the Winds is a podcast by Fremont County Museums. With museums in Dubois, Riverton, and Lander, the Fremont County Museum System is committed to collecting, preserving, and interpreting the stories of Fremont County, Wyoming and the Wind River area. The unique artifacts found at our museums relate the history of central Wyoming with information which, in many cases, can’t be found anywhere else. With the Rediscover the Winds Podcast, we hope to bring some of that history to you, wherever you are listening.
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Episodes
Sunday Jun 29, 2025
Sunday Jun 29, 2025
In this episode, we focus on the history of the town of Hudson. We discuss the early homesteaders, the railroad, and the all important coal mines. We explore how the coal mining industry created a thriving town and community. We look at the kinds of businesses Hudson had as well as how the mines drew people from all over, creating mining camps that were melting pots of nationalities.
Monday Jul 28, 2025
Monday Jul 28, 2025
In this episode, we focus on the story of irrigation in Fremont County. We explore how people turned a desert into farmland. We look at the tensions over water rights, how the U.S. government worked to break up tribal lands, and political legislation such as the Dawes, Carey, and Reclamation Acts that all had direct impacts on irrigation. We also tell the story of the birth and subsequent troubles of the Wyoming Central Irrigation Company. Finally, we look at how early Riverton settlers came together to irrigate their farms and lands after private companies failed them.
Wednesday Aug 27, 2025
Wednesday Aug 27, 2025
Did you know the first airplane flight in the state of Wyoming occurred in Riverton?
In this episode, we tell the story of aviation in Riverton. We look at the early aviators of the 1910s. We explore the Golden Age of Aviation in the 1920s-1930s and look at how individuals used planes for recreation and entertainment. We investigate the impact of World War II on aircraft production and delve into the history of Riverton airport, now known as Central Wyoming Regional Airport.
Monday Sep 29, 2025
Monday Sep 29, 2025
In this episode, we track the history of the railroad in Fremont County. We investigate the inception of the railroad to its eventual decline. We look at how the opening of reservation lands triggered the creation of the line from Casper to Lander. We also investigate the connection between the railroad and townsites. Finally, we explore the importance of the railroad to industries in the area.
Wednesday Oct 29, 2025
Wednesday Oct 29, 2025
In this episode, we explore the history of automobiles and how they were essential to the development of tourism in Fremont County. We look at the history of road improvements and the inception of highways. Further, we investigate how interest in Yellowstone National Park was vital to developments in travel and tourism.
Saturday Nov 29, 2025
Saturday Nov 29, 2025
In this episode, we explore the story of the Great Depression in Fremont County. We look at how New Deal programs and projects combatted the financial crisis and how towns and roads were improved during this era. Finally, we investigate the impact of those projects on tourism in Fremont County.
Monday Dec 29, 2025
Monday Dec 29, 2025
In this episode, we explore the story of hotels in Riverton. We look at the early hotels of the 1900s and investigate the influx of people to the area. We explore factors that led to this population increase including settlement, job opportunities, and the railroad. Additionally, we look at the growth of tourism to the area, including interest in Yellowstone National Park which greatly contributed to the growth of hotels, and later motels, in Riverton.