The Yellowstone Gateway Museum announces the opening of two new exhibits, “1916: One Hundred Years Ago in Park County” and oil paintings by Tom L. Roberts that depict regional fur trappers and explorers in rich detail. Both of the museum’s new exhibits relate and celebrate this year’s National Park Service (NPS) centennial.

The 1916 exhibit was developed to provide context for the year that the NPS was created, focusing on Yellowstone National Park. It not only interprets the stories behind local artifacts and photographs, but also explores national and regional events. Included in the exhibit are stories and photographs of Park County High School’s Class of 1916, artifacts from local businesses, clothing and recreation of the day, and interpretation of the transitional time in Yellowstone from its protection by the US Army to the new agency, including transportation, camping, administration, and more.

The art exhibit features artist Tom L. Roberts’ interpretation of explorers and fur trappers in the Yellowstone Region before the park was created in 1872. His five, oil-on-canvas paintings—30” x 40” or larger—are richly detailed and include depictions of Capt. William Clark, John Colter, Jim Bridger, Baptiste Ducharme, and Osborne Russell. The stories and research behind his works are included in the exhibit.

Roberts studied art at the University of Northern Iowa, earning a BA in Art Education in 1978. His art teaching career has spanned the last 35 years with positions in Iowa; Virginia; Kobe, Japan; and Vienna, Austria where he taught both two- and three-dimensional art. Roberts works mainly in oils and watercolors but has done some sculpting and pottery. He has had two one-man shows at the Sioux City Art Center, was the feature artist for three consecutive years at the Missouri River Expo, and his work is held in many private collections in the Midwest and Montana. During his twenty-summer interpretive ranger career in Yellowstone National Park, Roberts gave many living history portrayals of John Colter and his exploration of the Yellowstone region.

Both exhibits are on display in the Expedition Room and are slated to run through September.

The museum is located in Livingston, Montana at 118 W. Chinook and is open seven days a week from 10 AM to 5 PM. For more information, please contact Paul Shea or Karen Reinhart, Yellowstone Gateway Museum, 222-4184.