Vicar's Hospital: A Favorite Display at the Museum

The Musselshell Valley Historical Museum is open 7 days a week from 1-5 until September 30. That means you only have a couple of weeks to get into the museum this season and learn more about local history.

Vivian Edwards has a favorite exhibit at the museum. It is the hospital surgery room on the second floor. There is a photograph of Vivian's Grandma Francis Vicars in the surgery room. The surgery room represents the old Vicars Hospital located at 1st St and 5th Avenue West.

The Roundup Hospital was built in 1908-1909 by Bette Giles and Lizzie Bequette. It operated at the Roundup Hospital from 1908-1912, when a fire destroyed the third floor. In 1912, the James Copeland family purchased the structure, removed the third story and converted it into a 2-story rooming house.

Francis Vicars purchased the building in the 1920's and reopened it in partnership with Marie Knutson. It operated under the name of Musselshell Valley Hospital.

In 1952-1953 it became the Vicars Nursing Home and remained in operation until the 1970's. The building sat vacant for many years. It was used in the 1980's as a haunted house venue for Halloween.

A couple owners have purchased it and done some remodeling. That is in the process now with some new owners.

We hope to see you at the museum before September 30. Come and enjoy our new exhibits this year, including the Dino Depot.