Sam Lightner

Wyoming Public Media is hosting an opening reception in Meeteetse for a photo exhibit celebrating the winning entries from its photo contest, Wyoming’s History Through Listeners’ Eyes.  These standout images — captured by listeners from across the state — offer unique perspectives on Wyoming’s landscapes, communities, and heritage. All winning photographs will be on display for the public to enjoy during the reception.  

The event will include a special presentation by Sam Lightner about his book, “In the Valley of the Warm Winds.” Sam Lightner is an author and climber who has written over a dozen books. His stories have brought to life subjects varying from World War II, as it was fought in Borneo, to a roadside history of Moab, Utah. Having grown up in Wyoming, his favorite subject is the Equality State, for which he has four different titles. They include “Roads Through Time: Jackson Hole, Wyoming;” “A Climbers Guide, Wyoming;” “A History of the American West,” and his latest, “In the Valley of the Warm Winds.”

The latter will be his subject to discuss at the Meeteetse Museum. Warm Winds follows the life of Chief Washakie of the Eastern Shoshone, showing how his diverse personal history helped him to unite the Eastern Shoshone. Washakie then chose the most coveted territory in the inter-mountain West for their reservation. The book not only vividly describes the life of the great chief but also shows the reader the greater context of how the western expansion of the United States impacted Wyoming. Along the way, Jim Bridger, Will Sublette, Brigham Young, Abraham Lincoln, as well as Big Robber of the Crow and Crazy Horse of the Lakota, come through the story. Sam will discuss how he wrote the book and will also talk about some details of the famed Crowheart Butte Battle during the presentation. Copies of Lightner’s book will be available for purchase and signing.

The event will include free refreshments, calendars featuring the winning photography, and bison ear buds.

In 2025, Wyoming Public Media invited Wyomingites to get out and take photos of Wyoming’s beautiful scenery, people, and history. The top choices will be displayed as part of a traveling exhibit. Following the Meeteetse exhibit at the Meeteetse Museum in May, the display will travel around the state through December 2026. Each exhibit will have an opening reception featuring a guest speaker who will highlight the history of that area. For more information and to view the winning photos, visit the virtual exhibit online at WyomingPublicMedia.org. 

This project is funded in part by the Wyoming Semiquincentennial grant from the Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources office.

For more information, contact: Diana Denison, ddenison@uwyo.edu, 307-766-4240.