The Powell American Legion Hall, which now houses the Homesteader Museum, was one of two Park County properties listed within the last year on the National Register of Historic Places. The Sage Creek Community Clubhouse was also bestowed with National Register designation after a long documentation and nomination process. 

The Powell American Legion Hall (Homesteader Museum) is only the second site within the town of Powell to be listed on the National Register. The large log structure was built in 1933-1934 to house the Hughes-Pittinger Post of the American Legion. It is situated on a parcel of land explicitly reserved for public purposes. 

The two locations join the Ralston Community Clubhouse, the Powell Post Office, Pioneer School in Clark and several Cody buildings — the city’s downtown has a historic designation.

In November 1976 the Homesteader Museum moved its collections into the building. The museum had planned to operate out of the old Shoshone Project Headquarters Office — which was also on the National Register of Historic Places — until that building was demolished in 1974.  

“The designation for the Homesteader Museum means a great deal to Powell and captures the importance of the building relating to the history of the area,” said Brandi Wright, director/curator of the Homesteader Museum. “The historical significance of the building combined with the contents of the museum collection represent stories of perseverance, pride, and development of the community within the Powell Valley and throughout Park County. The new status will help with the preservation of the historic structure in the form of grant funding opportunities available to historic buildings.”

Wright had previously told the Tribune that being on the register gives the museum access to more grants to help maintain the building.

The Sage Creek Community Clubhouse was constructed by area residents on the hillside above Sage Creek in 1924. The original stage, dance floor and basement dining hall are all still present and historically accurate. The building has been used by the local community for potlucks, dances, concert, church services, 4-H events and other public gatherings.

“The designation on the National Register will enable the club membership to maintain the structure by applying for grants for much-needed repairs,” said club historian Cheryl Darling. “As the club membership grows, which is our primary goal, we will continue to foster a community club of neighborly traditions.” One hundred years after its opening, the Sage Creek Community Clubhouse still acts as a hub for community events and gatherings.

The process of listing the properties began in 2022 when the Park County Historic Preservation Commission applied for and received grant funds from the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to contract with a professional National Register Nomination preparator, Rosenberg Historical Consultants of Cheyenne, to assemble all the materials required for the nomination. 

The finished nominations were sent to the Wyoming SHPO in May 2023 for review by the Wyoming State Review Board, which meets three times per year to evaluate submitted nominations. Following the approval of the review board the nominations were forwarded to the National Park Service for formal listing on the National Register of Historic Places.  

The Powell American Legion Hall (Homesteader Museum) was officially listed on the National Register on Dec. 11, 2023. The Sage Creek Community Clubhouse was listed on Aug. 19, 2024. 

Earning the designation on the National Register of Historic Places will encourage future preservation efforts and appreciation for the historical nature of the buildings. It will also make the expense of historically contributing maintenance projects eligible for federal and state grants.  

Getting on the National Register does not hinder regular maintenance work or other changes to historic buildings. It also does not preclude the wholesale destruction of the buildings in the future. At worst, if substantial changes were made so as to undermine the historical integrity of the buildings the National Register designation would simply be withdrawn. But no other consequences would exist. 

Other Park County places nominated to the National Register of Historic Places in recent years include the Clay Butte Lookout Tower, listed in 2014, and the Pagoda Creek archeological site, listed in 2017.