Staff duties split three ways — New museum team brings history forward

At the Red Onion Museum, a retired Disneyland trainer opens the Old Town cabins and listens as residents point out relatives in photographs. At the Anna Miller Museum, a history enthusiast traces family graves, while a retired coal miner improves outlets, lighting and displays.

They are part of a restructured museum team led by director Tasia Forrester. Under the new arrangement, Forrester focuses largely on the museum, rather than having to do as much personnel and administrative work as her predecessor, Cindy Dysart, did, according to Linda Nessul, the president of the Weston County Museum District Board. Jake Willadson, assistant director, handles much of the research, while Ann Jennings, who was hired as a bookkeeper, manages the financial work. Nessul said Dysart suggested the restructuring after bookkeeping, vouchers, contracts, maintenance and other responsibilities left her with little time for museum work.

Forrester has worked at the museum for nearly three years, including two years under Dysart. Born and raised locally, she said her interest in history was also encouraged by her grandfather, William Morris, who served on the museum board for 26 years. His mountain man and rendezvous collection remains on display.

Forrester said Dysart taught her the importance of maintaining strong relationships with the board, staff and community.

“I call it a team,” Forrester said. “That’s what you need to make it work.”

Her planned projects include a rotating exhibit that would allow children to display their artwork at the museum for two weeks. Afterward, the young artists could decide whether to donate, sell or take home their work.

Forrester is also researching an exhibit about Wyoming plants and their medicinal uses. The display could include information about turning plants into teas or oils and possibly offer seeds. Both projects are part of her effort to increase school and community involvement while giving residents new reasons to visit.

At the Red Onion Museum, Pinky Sales, Red Onion’s tech, has been conducting research, greeting visitors and opening the Old Town cabins each morning since she began working there in July.

Sales and her husband moved to Upton in 2025. Although she had retired and did not plan to return to work, she applied after learning about the museum opening.

Sales previously spent 14 years at Disneyland, where she worked in the box office and helped lead orientation programs for new employees. She said the communication and tour skills she developed there have transferred naturally to museum work.

She has especially enjoyed meeting local families who recognize relatives in the museum’s photographs, books and yearbooks.

“It puts flesh on the bones of a museum to have those personal interactions,” Sales said.

Willadson began working at the Anna Miller Museum about four months ago. His interest in history, classic cars and historic buildings drew him to the position.

Much of his work involves researching local families and cemeteries for visitors searching for relatives. In one case, a woman identified an organ at the museum as the instrument her family had transported in a covered wagon.

“I just think that’s awesome that we still have it — and the fact that it was even in a covered wagon is crazy to me because it’s in great shape and I cannot imagine packing around my valuables like that,” he said.

He is also helping museum staff find donated artifacts that have not been displayed and give them “new life” in exhibits.

Mike Johnson, who handles maintenance, came to the museums after retiring from the coal industry. He initially wanted a part-time position to keep busy, but his responsibilities have grown to include work at the Anna Miller and Red Onion museums and Old Ridge Cemetery.

Johnson has helped improve exhibit lighting, electrical access and museum grounds. One of the most important changes was the installation of permanent outlets for display cabinets that had relied on extension cords. He is now helping to replace damaged and missing signs at Beaver Creek.

Museum leaders are also beginning to explore a possible expansion that could accommodate three dinosaur pieces, including a T. rex model and a Triceratops piece. The proposal remains preliminary, and staff members are researching grants and potential community partners.

For now, Forrester said, her priority is giving residents, especially children, more ways to connect with the museums.

“I just want more community involvement,” she said.

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