Tag: art

Things to Do in Big Horn, Wyoming, USA

239 Brinton Road. Located about 20 miles south of Sheridan and a short drive west off I-90 and Hwy 87, museum admission is free.

For current seasonal opening hours, check the Brinton Museum website. In the Summer, the museum is open everyday at 9:30 am to 5:00 pm from May to September. In the Fall, the museum is open Thursdays to Saturdays at 9:30 am to 5:00 pm from September to December. In the Winter, the museum is closed from December to February. In the Spring, the museum is open Thursdays to Saturdays at 9:30 am to 5:00 pm from February to May.

The Britton Museum has a significant collection of Western Art, featuring Frederic Remington, Charles Russell, Thomas Moran, among others. Click on the gallery photos to see the full images.

To Honor The Plains Nations on exhibition in the Mars Gallery displays pre-reservation and post-reservation era items from the Bradford Brinton Collection and the Gallatin American Indian Art Collection.

Bradford Brinton collected American Indian art primarily representative of the Northern Great Plains Indian Peoples and the southwest and northwest coast tribes.

Later on, the museum substantially expanded its American Indian collections with the Gallatin gift of Crow/Apsáalooke, Lakota, and Cheyenne items.

A pictographic painted muslin dated 1899 by Stephen Standing Bear (Minneconjou/Lakota) depicting the events leading to the Battle of the Little Big Horn; an Apache Woman’s Dress and Moccasins, c.1850s; and a rare Blackfeet War Chief’s Shirt and Leggings, c.1830s, are among more recent accessions.

Bradford Brinton was a wealthy businessman and rancher who amassed a significant art collection focused on the American West and Native American items. After his death, his sister Helen inherited the Quarter Circle A Ranch outside of Big Horn as her summer home as well as Brinton’s art collection. The current museum was built on the ranch property, plus you can also tour the Ranch House in the Summer ($10).

There are also tours of James Jackson’s Leather Workshop ($10) and Nature Trails on the property. Below are photos from the amazing temporary exhibition of Jackson’s artwork that was on display during my visit in April 2026. Unfortunately, when I visited, the Ranch House and Leather Workshop were not open for the season yet. A good excuse to return!

The views and landscape surrounding the museum are just magnificent! And, I enjoyed a delicious bowl of soup and a nice glass of wine at the Museum Bistro for lunch.

This was a wonderful way to break up a longer drive. Even the drive from and to the Interstate is a beautiful escape.

Whether you are spending a couple of days in Sheridan or just driving through, the Brinton Museum is definitely worth a stop.

I also was impressed by the carefully curated items in the Museum Shop. I got a wonderful children’s book and am the proud owner of some new earrings as well. They even have a website to buy items online.

The Brinton Museum is a window to the past and the future. Make a detour to visit on your next trip out West!