Jackson Hole is looking pretty darn good for turning 100, don’t ya think! Come out and celebrate this amazing and rugged town with many exciting events planned throughout the year to commemorate this historic centennial event.
History
As legend has it Jackson Hole became incorporated as a town solely to collect a $1,200 liquor license fee from an illegal saloon. If it became a town they could collect the licensing fee from the saloon and keep the money locally rather then sending it to Kemmerer. The only problem was they needed 150 residents to become a town and the elk far out unnumbered the townsfolk in 1914. Town leaders set the town’s boundaries to incorporate everyone they could find in the local area, but still came up one name short. Luckily, a woman was pregnant and she named her baby to be on the spot and its name was added to the list. With a vote of 48 in favor and 21 against the resolution to incorporate was passed and the liquor license fee was collected. The rest as they say is town history.
How to Celebrate
With past successful and fun events, such as the kick off party and community picnic, it all leads up to the grand celebration on Friday, September 19th festivities begin sharply at 1:22 pm on Friday in what is sure to be a jam-packed weekend of everything Jackson.
For some local history of Jackson Hole check out the event The Mosely/Hardeman Barn: A Treasure in Plain Sight on Friday, September 19th Center for the Arts. The Center for the Arts is also presenting a program entitled Plain Sight. Details are currently under wraps but check out their website, jhcenterforarts.org, for forthcoming information about these and other events.
Interested in the town’s history with quilting then come see the Quilting Demonstration at the historic Miller House on Saturday, September 20th on the National Elk Refuge the Miller House is just 3⁄4 miles north of the Elk Refuge entrance on East Broadway Avenue.
Dust off your dancing shoes and get ready for a night of revelry as The Centennial Gala kicks off Saturday, September 20th information contact the JH Chamber of Commerce at (307) 733-3316. Get your hands on some Jackson Hole Centennial history and buy a limited edition Centennial Silver Coin. It beats waiting 100 years to grab a silver coin at the bicentennial. Only 500 have been minted and they’re sure to become a collector’s item. Or grab something you can wear to say you were there at this special event with a keepsake t-shirt or hat. Even better yet buy a centennial pint glass and literally raise a glass to this historic town and event. To find out where to buy these one of a kind items contact the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce at (307) 733-3316.
Other ways for everyone to celebrate the town we all love is to share your Jackson Hole memories and photos on Facebook with the Jackson, Wyoming Centennial Celebration page. It’s a great way to post your past memories from back in the day or your last vacation as well as see what other people’s past adventures in town and surrounding Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Here’s a link to their page, facebook.com/pages/Jackson-Wyoming-Centennial-Celebration/488597637912528
So mark your calendars and celebrate with one of your dearest and oldest friends, Jackson Hole. Just be glad you don’t have to blow out all those birthday candles by yourself.
To keep up with what is going on for the Jackson Hole Centennial visit jacksonholecentennial.com
