Lemley Mill and Miners Delight Saloon, WY 2024
*UPDATE – WE’VE ADDED ANOTHER SESSION – July 7-12! *
It’s time again for HistoriCorps to return to Wyoming and continue our longstanding work at the historic Lemley Mill and Miners Delight Saloon!
PROJECT PARTNER: Bureau of Land Management
SESSION DATES: June 2-7, June 9-14, June 23-28, June 30 – July 5, and July 7-12 (NEW SESSION ADDED!)
PROJECT SUPERVISOR: Scot Bowers!
CREW LEADER: TBD!
Project Site Description & History
Located just 40 minutes from the outdoor-lovers’ destination of Lander, WY, gateway to the unforgettable Wind River Range, Lemley Mill is part of the 30-square-miles South Pass Historic Mining Area. This area is included in the traditional homelands of the Crow, Cheyenne, and Eastern Shoshone Nations. A small gold discovery in 1867 bolstered the local population but quickly fizzled out following the mines playing out in the area. The Lemley Mill was constructed during a failed attempt to revive mining here during the Great Depression, but was abandoned just a decade later due to its unprofitability. It was acquired by the BLM in the 1960s. Today, just handful of folks live in the area. The historic gravity mill retains distinctive construction methods of the period and gold-milling components. The last major renovation was by the BLM in the 1970’s and included adding electricity, adding new structural support, and exterior water proofing. The building, as it stands today, needs an overhaul to stabilize many areas of collapse and deterioration.
HistoriCorps will provide work to support stabilization efforts that include interior structural reinforcement and replacement of exterior wood areas to protect the building. The project will first clean the interior areas of collapsed debris, protect the historic items in place, and replace damaged roof sections, and assist in long-term BLM site interpretation to tell the story of the miners and history of the land for generations to come.
The South Pass Historic Mining area contains remnants of five National Historic Trails. Emigrants used these trails to travel across the continent, often in search of new livelihoods. An estimated 400,000 people traveled the Oregon Trail (the most famous of the five) between 1830 and 1870. An additional historic route, the Wyoming Women’s Suffrage Highway, runs near here as well.
Intrepid travelers willing to go “where the rails end and the trails begin” will certainly enjoy exploring the natural and historic features found throughout this region. Volunteers on this project will have the opportunity to learn about mining history in Wyoming, experience dramatic and ever-changing landscapes where the Red Desert meets the Wind River Mountains, and learn the skills necessary to ensure the history contained in this site can be interpreted and explored for generations to come.
Location and Logistics
SESSION DATES: June 2-7, June 9-14, June 23-28, June 30 – July 5, and July 7-12 (New Session Added!)
Please plan to arrive at our campsite no earlier than 5pm and no later than 7pm on the first day of your session.
LOCATION: 45 minutes from Lander, WY!
MAP to LEMLEY MILL CAMPGROUND
MAP to DEXTER MILLS CAMPGROUND
MAP to MINERS DELIGHT SALOON
ACCESS:
Our primary campsite at the Lemley Mill is accessible for tent campers, truck campers, campervans, and small RVs and trailers. A few RV spaces are available just down the road at the Dexter Mill RV Park with hookups. Coin operated showers are also located at the Dexter Mill RV Park and dogs are welcomed at this project!
WEATHER: Anticipate highs in the 70s and lows potentially in the 30s. Weather conditions may be rainy, cloudy, or sunny. Volunteers are responsible for checking weather conditions before their session begins, and packing appropriately.
ABOUT VOLUNTEERING: HistoriCorps projects are free for volunteers! HistoriCorps will provide all meals, tools, training, equipment, and a campsite. Volunteers are responsible for their own transportation to the campsite, sleeping equipment, work gloves, clothes and boots, and other personal gear.
Scope of Work
SCOPE OF WORK DIFFICULTY: 
HistoriCorps is committed to educating and training volunteers in preservation skills, with an overarching mission of inspiring a preservation ethic in all those involved. Learning and working alongside expert HistoriCorps field staff, volunteers will learn the skills necessary to preserve and stabilize the historic Lemley Mill and Miners Delight Saloon.
Lemley Mill:
- Install interpretive historical signage
- Site cleanup and general touchups
Miner’s Delight Saloon: *UPDATED*
- Install exterior wood chinking
- Install new daubing
- Instal existing and new mill work for windows and door
- Reinstall original log infill
- Create window sashes and glazing for East window
Please note: Tasks vary by day and by week, depending on a variety of factors including: weather, project priorities, previous groups’ work, and more. Though it is likely you will get to learn and practice most or all of the above tasks, it is not guaranteed. The higher percentage of the scope a particular task is, the more likely you will get to practice it.
Sign Up!
We’re thrilled this project has inspired you to volunteer!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!
Visit our Job Calendar to see spaces are available!
*All registrations submitted to projects at capacity will be automatically added to our waitlist.*
CANCELLATIONS effect our ability to complete projects. Please register only if you are certain about your ability to participate.
You will know your registration was successful when you receive a confirmation email. Contact volunteer@historicorps.org for assistance.
HistoriCorps does not charge for its volunteering projects. HistoriCorps relies on donations to continue engaging volunteers to save significant historical sites across America for generations to come. Your donation of any amount will make an incredible difference! Increase your impact – make a generous gift today.
Volunteer Logistics, Policies, and Advice
We’re so glad you’re interested in joining this project! If you’re new to our community, review the Volunteer FAQ first! Please note the following logistics and policies:
- Volunteering with HistoriCorps is free! We will provide all meals, tools, training, equipment, and a campsite or shared indoor lodging. Dinner is not provided on the first night.
- Volunteers are responsible for bringing their own gear, work gloves, sturdy work clothes and boots, and appropriate sleeping equipment. Check the average temperatures before you start packing – the nights and mornings may be colder than you anticipate! Then, read this advice about how to stay warm when tent camping in colder places.
- Campsite accessibility varies by project. Some projects can accommodate tents only; others can accommodate small RVs. Please review the project site description above for more information, and if you’re still not sure, email volunteer@historicorps.org for help.
- If this project does not offer showers, you might want to consider bringing a solar shower or research other methods to clean up after the work day.
- Volunteer crew sizes generally range from 4-8 volunteers, with two HistoriCorps staff that lead and train volunteers in the work.
- Safety is one of HistoriCorps’ top priorities, and volunteers can contribute to a safe working environment by ensuring their physical fitness is adequate for the work. See above for this project’s scope of work and difficulty level. Please, call us if you are not quite sure if a project is a good fit for your skills or fitness level. We may be able to suggest a project more suitable and enjoyable for you.
- Hard hats, eye protection, ear protection, gloves are standard personal protection equipment (PPE) required on all projects. Hard hats must be worn at all times on the project site, unless working in a designated safe space. Field staff will train volunteers on correct use of PPE.
- Dogs are generally allowed to accompany their humans in project campsites (actually, we love having dogs join us around the campfire!). Dogs are not permitted on the job site for everyone's safety. HOWEVER: HistoriCorps also follows the rules and regulations of our project partner. If the project partner does not permit dogs onsite then HistoriCorps is no exception. Please ask HistoriCorps or the project partner directly if you have any questions about whether Fido is welcome.