In the spring of 1900, Pharmacist Theodore James Gatchell, better known as Jim, opened the first drugstore in Johnson County. The Buffalo Pharmacy became a popular stopping place for cowboys, lawmen, settlers, cattle barons, and famous Army scouts.
Jim became a trusted friend to the region’s Native Americans, local residents, and those that passed through town. Many of those that befriended Jim brought him several gifts over the years. From guns to medicine bags, bow and arrows to clothing, those gifts now help tell Jim’s incredible story inside the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum.
Our museum is dedicated to sustaining the late Jim Gatchell’s vision of preserving the history of Johnson County, Wyoming through the collection and conservation of related art and artifacts. We will develop interpretive exhibits, publications, and programs to help educate our visitors on the historical events that shaped modern-day Johnson County.
When Jim Gatchell opened The Buffalo Pharmacy in 1900, the drugstore had an immediate impact on the Johnson County community.
Bringing in people from far and wide, Jim enjoyed getting to know his customers and befriended many. Famous Army scouts, cowboys, settlers, cattle barons, and lawmen would all frequent the pharmacy sharing with Jim their stories of life, work, and war.
Before landing in Buffalo, Wyoming, Jim had grown up on a Lakota reservation and was fluent in the Lakota language. Through this and his caring nature, he became a trusted friend of the region’s Native Americans. They brought him many gifts throughout the years including guns, war bonnets, tools, medicine bags, bows, arrows, and clothing. As word about the gifts got out, local residents began donating mementos of historic names, places, and events from Johnson County.
All of the artifacts Jim received have a unique role in telling of the culture and history of Johnson County. After Jim Gatchell’s death in 1954, his family generously donated his vast collection to the people of Johnson County with the provision that a museum be built to house it. After three years of fundraising, the museum was established in 1957.
Nearly forty years later in the early 1990s, the museum came upon hard times financially as Johnson County struggled with a declining economy. In an effort to keep the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum in operation, a group of community-minded individuals formed the Gatchell Museum Association, Inc. The GMA made it their mission to raise money for future support of the museum and they have been building an endowment fund and supporting many museum projects ever since.
The museum complex contains a 1909 Carnegie Library, the original 1957 building, and a 1999 Carriage House addition.
Johnson County (JC) provides funding as available for the operation of the museum through the county mill levy authorized under Wyoming Statute 39-12-1-4(b)(i)(D). JC provides funding for maintenance and infrastructure. JC appoints a board of trustees as provided under Wyoming Statute 18-10-101 through 105.
The museum board of trustees is responsible for employing and supervising an executive director who is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the museum. The museum board of trustees holds monthly public meetings where they review expenditures and incomes of the museum.
In recent years, JC has contributed approximately half of the museum’s overall budgeted income. Other sources of income include admissions, store sales, grants, and donations.
Inside the Museum Store you will find many unique souvenirs made right here in Wyoming. With a rotating inventory of art, jewelry, books, candles, stuffed animals, toys, and more, you’re sure to always find something new. Don’t have a chance to visit our store in person? Check out our online store on our museum website.
Gift Shop
Online Gift Shop
Group Tours