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From tiger's tooth to cow's
hairball, Hyrum museum has it all
By Seth
Bracken
September 25, 2008 | HYRUM -- At 27 years old, the
city museum has a new home and a new look but the same
appeal to those who have ties to Cache Valley.
What sets the Hyrum Museum apart from others is that
it has many roots to the small town in which it is located.
Many people visit because of family ties that lead them
to Hyrum where the museum staff is familiar with many
families that have lived in the area, said Barbra McBride,
museum employee.
"People appreciate the fact that you know who they
are or who their grandparents are," she said.
The museum is family staffed by the McBride family
and has been since it was started in 1981 by the father
of current museum administrator, Jeff McBride. Currently
Jeff and Barbra McBride run the museum with their son,
Matt.
The museum was originally housed in the basement of
a church for nine years, and then was moved to the city
building for 16 years. After being closed for a year
it reopened in May.
The museum houses a variety of displays ranging from
a veterans' display to a melon-sized cow hairball, to
a prehistoric saber-tooth tiger tooth.
However, it isn't the abnormally sized hairball that
makes this museum special, it is that many who visit
the museum can recognize in the photographs family members,
or can find information about genealogical ties that
would be less likely or even impossible in a museum
in a larger city.
"This is meant to be a community museum and if it
doesn't mean anything to people there's no point in
being here," said Barbra McBride.
As part of the effort to involve the community, the
museum employees try to maintain contact with a Shoshoni
Native American tribe.
"We want them to have a voice because lots of times
in a museum there's only one perspective," said Matt
McBride.
The museum has had over 500 visitors since its opening
in May, attracting school groups, scouts and many locals.
The museum is located at 50 W. Main St., and operating
hours are Tuesday through Friday from 2 to 7 p.m. and
Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m., or by appointment.
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