Exhibit Information:

Wray Museum in Archaeology

As you enter the door of the Wray Museum, a life-sized model of a Bison Antiques greets you.  Crafted by Lance Bohall, this sculpture gives the viewer a real sense of the size of the Bison hunted by the Paleo Indians 10,000 years ago.  In 1972 Robert Jones was digging an irrigation system south of Laird, CO, when he began to uncover bones-thousands of bones.  The site was excavated from 1973 to 1975 by the Smithsonian Institute lead by Dr. Dennis Standford with funding from the National Geographic Society.  Excavators found 41,000 bison bones, 248 stone artifacts, thousands of small animal bones and land snails.  Part of the actual bone bed from the Jones Miller site and artifacts from other archaeology sites in Yuma County are on display at the Wray Museum.

Riddles From the Past, Resources for the Future is an exhibit that highlights Colorado Archaeology.  Assembled by the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, this pictorial review includes the development of Mesa Verde, Chimney Rock, the Granby site, and other Colorado sites.

The Wray Archaeology Club spent six months with over 600 hours of volunteer time to clean, catalog, and display the 800+ stone artifacts at the museum.  The Wray Museum Arrowhead Display contains Archaic, Paleo, and Woodland points, scrapers, and knives.

The Beecher Island Room at the Wray Museum

A wing of the Wray Museum is devoted to the Battle of Beecher Island and the Beecher Island Memorial Association Annual Reunion.  The Battle of Beecher Island took place on September 17, 1868 and lasted for nine days.  Twenty years after the historical battle, two of the surviving scouts returned to the battle site and with the help of local community members erected a monument. In 1899 a reunion was held to commemorate the battle and has been held every year since.

Currently the Beecher Island Room is closed for remodeling.  With the help of the Beecher Island Association, Kitzmiller-Bales Trust and the Gerber Trust, the East Yuma County Historical Society has acquired and is in process of purchasing a carriage for the 1863 Mountain Howitzer Cannon, and cleaning and hanging a 1966 oil painting of the battle. The room is also being updated with new lighting, display cabinets, and a fresh coat of paint.

The 1863 Mountain Howitzer Cannon is one of the two cannons that were donated to Beecher Island by the United States Arsenal at Rock Island, Illinois in October 1916.  They were secured through the efforts of Congressman Tumberlake at the last session of Congress in 1916.  Congressman Tumberlake had attended the 1915 reunion of the Battle of Beecher Island and had acquired a lively interest in the historic spot. Although the Mountain Howitzer Cannon was not used in the Battle of Beecher Island, it was used in the Civil War and afterwards on the Western Plains.  Today, there are very few of these cannons that still exist.  By mounting the cannon on a replica carriage, a better understanding of its historical use can be appreciated.

The EYCHS recently received a donation of a 1966 oil painting done by Irene Selonke. This incredible detailed painting, entitled Forsythe's Fight on the Arickaree, features Captain Allison Pliley, one of the army scouts involved in the Beecher Island Battle.  Mrs. Patricia M. Lorenz, granddaughter of Captain Allison J. Pliley, commissioned it.  She had long desired to commemorate the participation of her grandfather in the literal taming of the West in a painting.  Two years before the centennial anniversary, Irene Selonke created a remarkable and vivid mural of the battle.

Irene Selonke is an artist of note.  Her work has been exhibited at the Lever House, New York, the Merrill Chase Galleries in Chicago and the Garden of the Gods Gallery in Colorado Springs.  She has been recognized as one of the "Women Artists of the West" and is listed in the "Who's Who in American Artists, 1971" and "World Who's Who of Women". We are fortunate that one of her paintings has found a permanent home at the Wray Museum.

The Beecher Island Room features a diorama of the battle created by local artist Scott Chartier.  This detailed portrayal of the battle took 3 years to research and complete.  Also on display are memorabilia and photographs from the annual reunion and early maps of Yuma County. A reopening of the room is planned for May 2010.

The Trophy Room

A favorite of Wray’s school children is the Trophy Room.  Dale Whomble, an area resident, hunted and fished around the world during the winter months when he was not farming.  He accumulated many wonderful trophies, which he displayed in his home.  After his passing, his children donated his collection to the Wray Museum. In this room you will see bears, a wolf, leopard, cheetah, lions, eland, gazelle, many other animals, and fish.

This room also contains a mounted Migratory and Occupant Bird Collection from Barr Lake, which came from the original Beecher Island Museum. The birds were mounted and researched by L. Ray Hersey who was an avid naturalist in the 1910s and 20s.

Shady Rest Country Store

The Shady Rest Country Store Collection was donated to the Museum by Edwin “Bud” and Virginia Loeffler who started collecting old store items when they were first married in 1951. Over the years they accumulated a wonderful, large assortment of items.

Virginia was born in Armel to James and Myrtle Donaldson. In 1928 her parents built the Shady Rest Camp and Store in Wray and ran it until 1937. Bud traveled the northern states and parts of Canada for CF & I and brought home many treasures from his route. This country store has something for everyone and offers a peek into the stores of the past.

William B. Coston Photography Exhibit

William B. Coston came to Wray with his father at the age of 15 in 1886.  He learned the art of photography while helping Mr. Marsh in his photograph studio in Greeley, CO.  He became Wray’s first photographer in 1900 when he opened his studio in a small shed next to his home.  The William B. Coston Photography Exhibit features over 70 photos of early day Wray and the surrounding area.  Included in the photography display are Mr. Coston’s cameras, a replica studio and a beautiful 1861 Steinway Square Baby Grand Piano in rosewood finish that has a unique story of its own.

Main Wing of the Wray Museum

Currently the displays in the main wing of the Wray Museum focus on the late 1950s and early 1960s.  Fifty years ago a lot of exciting local and world events affected the citizens of Wray.

One display features uniforms from the Korean and Vietnam Wars.  Each branch of the military is represented and many local men were involved in the military conflicts of the time.

A textile display of clothing from the 50s and 60s includes three beautiful prom dresses belonging to Carol (Schakelaar) Twiss -1959, Ann (Edwards) Brethauer-1963 and Launa (Renzelman) Garton - 1964. There is children's clothing, ladies clothes, shoes and jewelry.

Margaret Prentice, who was a missionary nurse of the United Methodist Church, served in China for 26 years until the Communist party drove out the missionaries in 1949. She continued her career as a missionary nurse in Liberia, Africa for eight years.  Ms. Prentice retired to California where she wrote and published a book entitled "Unwelcome at the Northeast Gate." She passed away in 1988.

There is also a display on the Red Cross Gray Ladies, which features a mannequin wearing the 1960s uniform of Lulu Coston Davis. Included is a photo of 14 Gray Ladies who were capped Dec. 8, 1960 following training. They were the first group of women in the United States to be trained to serve solely in nursing homes.

The most popular fashion doll ever created, "Barbie," made her debut in 1959. The first Barbie sported a ponytail, black and white Zebra striped bathing suit; open toed shoes, sunglasses and earrings.  The Museum's Barbie Doll collection is on loan from Darlene Strangways. Darlene has over 135 Barbie dolls and other Barbie items.

This time period was considered to be the Golden Age of Baseball. Local uniforms, equipment and team portraits create a truly summertime exhibit.