Helping to preserve Casper’s rich and historic roots, the Wyoming Veterans’ Memorial Museum shares the stories and experiences of Wyoming men and women who served. The Wyoming Veterans’ Memorial Museum preserves the rich history of the Casper Army Air Base (CAAB) that used to operate right here on airport grounds.
Located at 3740 Jourgensen Avenue, the Veterans’ Museum is located in what was the airbase’s Enlistedmen’s Service Club building. What used to be a lounge for enlisted men fitted with couches, tables, and even a stage, is now a museum featuring collections and exhibits illustrating the experiences and stories of Wyoming’s veterans.
The History
Along with the Enlistedmen’s Service Club that now houses the Veterans’ Museum, the grounds at the Casper/Natrona County International Airport are filled with original and historical buildings from the Casper Army Air Base, including (to no surprise) several hangars, a theatre, hospital, firehouse, and more. Established in 1942, the CAAB was a training facility for B-17 and B-24 combat crews during World War II. The first crew began training on November 1st, 1942. From that first day of training to the final day on September 1st, 1945, approximately 16,000 to 18,000 trainees passed through the CAAB as their final training grounds before deployment.
In 1949, the Base property was transferred to Natrona County and transformed into the Air National Guard training facility. Trainees came from as far as Missouri for summer training before the Air National Guard closed the training site in 1960, consolidating in Cheyenne in 1968. From there, Natrona County made this area the new home to the modern commercial airport which has evolved to what we know today.
The Veterans’ Museum was established in 2000 with a mission to tell the Casper Army Air Base story. Today, the Museum has evolved to share the memory and legacy of Wyoming’s veterans, while still preserving the history of the CAAB. The Museum features more than just artifacts and items; it tells meaningful, deep, thrilling, and sometimes sorrowful stories of Wyoming’s veterans from their time in war to the contributions they’ve made in their civilian lives.
Quick Fun Facts
- Lining the walls of the museum are original murals painted in 1943-1944 that illustrate 22 episodes of key industries making up Wyoming’s history – it’s a must see!
- The museum has three galleries featuring collections from every county in Wyoming.
- Bob Hope performed in the CAAB theater building in December 1942.
- The Gehrett Photo Collection is the newest rotating exhibit. Gehrett was a sailor from Casper stationed in China and served on the USS Pillsbury and USS Monocacy. This exhibit changes every three months with the next one opening in July called “On Leave,” so see it while you can!
- They offer a driving tour of the historical CAAB landscape at the Airport where visitors can drive the route and visit all 23 historical buildings and landmarks.
- Chuck Yeager, the first pilot to break the sound barrier, was stationed at the Casper Army Air Base in 1943. He pushed the limits often, including strapping a machine gun on a fighter plane and hunting several antelope from the air.
Explore the CAAB history and immerse yourself in the stories of Wyoming’s veterans with a visit to the Wyoming Veterans’ Memorial Museum. Learn more about the Veteran’s Museum, hours, and tours at https://wvmm.wyo.gov.
