Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Plaque |
Date |
1965 |
Description |
Round wooden plaque with paintind City of Rock Springs Seal on it. There is a silver metal tag on the back that reads "City of Rock Springs" Plaque consists of a flat, raised piece of wood with beveled edges. The Rock Springs City Seal created in 1965 by Mary V. Paterson. Seal was the winner of a contest put on by Mayor Wataha and the Rock Springs Art Guild. The entry rules stated the seal depict a part of Rock Springs history and/or local industry along with the words "City of Rock Springs, Incorporated 1888". Mrs. Paterson was a self taught artist, past President of the Wyoming Artists Association and the Rock Springs Artists Guild and worked hard to promote the arts in the community. She has several pieces- all landscapes - in the Community Fine Arts Center Collection here in Rock Springs. Paterson's design has the wording, "City of Rock Springs, Incorporated 1888", along with "Gateway to Vacation Land" - something that Rock Springs promoted heavily starting in the late 1950's early 1960's. People came through here to go north to Jackson Hole and Yellowstone, South to get to the Flaming Gorge after the dam was completed in 1964. There are mountains and the lake with a boat as a nod to both vacation areas. The railroad, both old coal/steam and the newer diesel/electric are depicted along with a sheepherders wagon and an oil rig, all the sources past and present of income here. Cattle and sheep along with two coal miners, one of whom is obviously Chinese, a nod to the Chinese Massacre of 1885. The flowers on the sides of the seal are purple iris, chosen as the City flower in 1951 by the Rock Springs General Federation of Women's Clubs ladies flower section. |
Dimensions |
Dia-19 inches |
People |
Paterson, Mary V. Wataha, Paul |
Subjects |
Plaque Official Seal |
Classification |
Plaque |
Search Terms |
Official Seal Rock Springs, Wyoming Paterson, Mary V. Wataha, Paul |
Collection |
Rock Springs Historical Museum |
Catalog Number |
2010.001.0001 |