If it wasn't for the fact that there are every bit of 278 people in this little hamlet, you could…read morebe forgiven if you completely by-passed this Historical Museum on the outskirts of the burgeoning metropolis known as Centennial, Wyoming. The roar of the dense traffic (an average of about 5-7 cars per hour) could lead you to worry as to whether crossing the oncoming lane of traffic on a narrow country lane is a safe bet. Well, worry no longer even though there are no actual plans to add a traffic light, additional stop sign, or even a blinking yellow crosswalk to this picturesque town.
After an approximate 25 mile drive from Laramie, the mountains start getting bigger in your windshield - well, because they are getting closer. As you come down into the entrance of the valley, you begin to get the idea that you could actually live and retire here.
Before you decide to do that, you really need to stop at this museum located at the entrance to the town just wear the signs warn the deer, elk, and occasional tourist to slow down to about 30. Warning: Not slowing down will cause you to miss the museum, the ice cream shop, the coffee drive-thru, the steak houses, the tavern, the little store, and might even get you a ticket from the lone policeman who sits in his patrol car just past the steak restaurant on the left. Be warned as it is definitely a speed trap and Barney Fife will stop you and throw you in the clink for trying to destroy this pristine haven with your Co2 emissions. It does not matter that it probably emits less than the flatulent cow herds scattered around town.
Back to the museum that is on the left hand side of the road, DON'T MISS IT! It is run by volunteers who also recommend that you don't miss it. The people of the town don't want you to miss it. In fact, if Centennial had a mayor, they would probably campaign on the promise to bring more traffic to the Nici Self Historical Museum. So, DON'T MISS IT!
Seriously, the museum is free but does accept donations to help keep the doors open, so contribute as much as you feel you can. The museum continues to add quaint exhibitions that show you things like the history of the town, the history of the mine which is now closed, and the ranching heritage of past generations. There are several very large ranches in the area that are still in operation.
The exhibits also include items like a clawfoot metal bathtub, uniforms and outfits from over 100 years ago, an old train caboose, old fire engines, horse-drawn wagons, a nice wood-working shop exhibit, and even a distant relative of Mater of "Cars" fame sits ready to take on the next winter with his skis and tracks.
Having been a funeral director in the past, it was also of interest that there is only one grave in this entire area and it is located at the museum. The grass is fairly well kept and it is fenced off, but no other cemeteries. The caretakers did not even seem to know why this is because many old towns even have some semblance of a Boot Hill.
While you can probably see everything in less than an hour, you could easily spend closer to 2 hours reading all the interesting pieces of trivia and the history of the hardy generations who came to live where very few were willing to live at the entrance to some of the most beautiful country in the world.
From their website: https://niciselfmuseum.org/
Nici Self Historical Museum
2734 Highway 130
Centennial, Wyoming 82055
Open Thursday through Monday, noon to 4 PM, Memorial Day through Labor Day
Open Saturday and Sunday, noon to 4 PM in September
