The Alliance for Historic Wyoming Watch List brings statewide attention to historic properties in
Wyoming that are currently threatened with demolition or neglect. Properties listed on the
Watch List are significant to Wyoming at the local or state level and have local support for their preservation.

Significance and Threat

The City of Rock Springs is considering shuttering the doors on the Rock Springs Civic Center, citing years of deferred maintenance, and lack of funding to continue operations. The future of the building is uncertain and is in the hands of the City Council.

History

Built in 1929 as the meeting hall for the Union Pacific Coal Company’s Old Timers Association, the Rock Springs Civic Center links the modern city of Rock Springs to its working-class and coal mining past. The building represents the architectural style of James Libby, Union Pacific Coal Company’s engineer, who designed it. While unheralded, Libby was at the forefront of urban design in the early 20th century.

In 1919, the Union Pacific Coal Company moved its headquarters to Rock Springs, which was the center for its mining activities. During the 1920s the company built many new buildings to serve its needs. Most of these buildings were designed by James Libby, the company’s Assistant Chief Engineer. These include a new headquarters building (now used for office space and a restaurant), the Wardell Court residential neighborhood (now a National Register District) and the Old Timers Meeting Hall. Libby designed the Hall as a place for association members to hold their annual meetings, conduct banquets, and even hold memorial services. The building was used until the 1960s when the Union Pacific Coal Company ceased operations. In the 1970s it was given to the City of Rock Springs. A pool, workout rooms, locker rooms and racquetball courts were added to the original structure.

The Old Timers Meeting Hall is important to Rock Springs for several reasons. First, it links the town to its mining roots. The Old Timers Association was created to honor those men who worked in the mines for 20 years or more. These long-time residents of southwestern Wyoming including Rock Springs endured many hardships during their long careers in the mines. As time progressed, sons and grandsons of early Association members became eligible themselves for membership. Following the end of coal mining in Rock Springs in the 1960s, the building continued to be an important civic meeting place for the people of Rock Springs. The building is also significant as a legacy of James Libby. Most of Libby’s buildings are now gone, with the Old Timers Hall remaining as one of the few examples of Libby’s architectural ability.

Contact Information and Call to Action

• SIGN THE PETITION!
• Urge the Rock Springs City Council to save the Rock Springs Civic Center!
• Heidi Humphreys, Rock Springs Historic Preservation Commission.
• Downtown Rock Springs.
• Watch for advocacy alerts about this site from the Alliance for Historic Wyoming.

Support the Watchlist

You can help the Alliance for Historic Wyoming in our efforts to preserve historic places and spaces across the state of Wyoming through advocacy, awareness, and action. The Watch List is meant to bring attention to historic locations in danger, and the work necessary to attempt to save them. We have established a Watchlist Fund to ensure we are able to stand up and advocate for our most vulnerable historic places and spaces.

Subscribe to our Newsletter to keep track of advocacy alerts and other ways you can help in our mission, and please consider donating to our Watchlist Fund so we can continue this work. You can also become a member or volunteer to get involved in the historic preservation of Wyoming’s buildings and sites that connect us to the past.