By Jeff Burns
Thermopolis
Wyoming is the county seat of Hot Springs County, with a population around
3,000. The name Thermopolis is Greek for
“Hot City”, in reference to the numerous hot springs which have drawn
tourists to the area since the 19th century.
The
Hot Springs State Park is located in Thermopolis, and you can bathe in thermal mineral pools, with a
temperature around 104 degrees (F), for free.
There are also two water concessions in the park, Teepee Pools and Star
Plunge, where you can pay to enjoy water slides and other pool fun. Once out of the pool, be sure to drive around
the park and see the Wyoming state buffalo herd.
The
Hot Springs County Museum is a must-see, with a great collection
of artifacts from the 19th and early 20th century. One great exhibit consists of a simulated
raised wooden sidewalk that takes you down a street of the Old West, allowing
you to see inside the storefronts.
Across the street, there are several buildings housing special
collections, including an old schoolhouse and a caboose.
Interested in ancient
history? Technically, pre-history? East
Thermopolis is home to the Wyoming Dinosaur Center. Wyoming is rich in fossils of all
kinds, and the museum proudly displays many Wyoming finds, as well as specimens
from around the world. You can see the
only Archaeopteryx fossil in North America, and you can even go out to an
active dig site.
Enjoy a day in Thermopolis, one of the few you places you
can relax in a mineral spring and learn about millions of years of history.
