The history of prospecting and mineral development in Wyoming’s Absaroka Mountains will be traced at an upcoming talk at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Brian Beauvais, curator of the Park County Archives in Cody, will present the free lecture on Thursday, Nov. 4.

The free Lunchtime Expedition runs from noon to 1 p.m. at the center’s Coe Auditorium. To join via Zoom, visit tinyurl.com/bww7sakt.

By the 1870s, a few rugged prospectors had made their way into the Absaroka Mountains to prospect for hidden riches in the rocky recesses of the high peaks, Beauvais said. The miners were able to locate a few regions of potentially valuable minerals, he said, and proceeded staking claims and hoping for good fortune. But as a consequence of unstable metal prices and the extreme remoteness of northwest Wyoming, the anticipated mining boom in the Absarokas never materialized. That, Beauvais says, left the mountains east of Yellowstone largely undeveloped long after adjacent sections of the Rocky Mountains had been augmented to facilitate resource extraction.

Beavious  has a Master of Arts in history and is currently working toward a MLS degree. In addition to his archival research interests, Beauvais also loves exploring the historical geography of Park County to better understand and recount the lesser known stories that endure throughout the local landscape.

Beauvais’ talk is titled “Hope and Hard Luck.”

The Draper’s Lunchtime Expeditions series of talks are supported in part by Sage Creek Ranch and the Nancy-Carroll Draper Foundation.