From Wartime Hut to Modern Museum: Casper’s $2.6 Million Veterans Upgrade

When the U.S. Army built a serviceman’s club in Casper in 1942, it was meant to last only a few years. The military conserved materials, expecting the structure to be torn down after World War II. Instead, the building endured as a venue for square dances and community events. Now, 84 years later, it is nearing the end of a $2.6 million renovation that will transform it into a permanent home for the Wyoming Veterans Memorial Museum.

The five-month project, led by Sheridan-based Dick Anderson Construction, addresses decades of wear. Workers have replaced the roof, installed new siding, built accessible bathrooms, and ripped out old ceiling panels that were literally falling down. Museum director John Woodward says the primary goal is simple: make the building last. “We looked at systems like the roof, the building’s siding, and accessibility,” he explains. “Making sure people with mobility issues can get into the museum more easily.”

One major challenge became immediately apparent. The roof trusses are spaced 13 feet apart—far wider than the standard 16 to 24 inches. Construction supervisor Bill Street had to bring in an engineer to determine whether new ductwork and drywall would be too heavy. The verdict: the trusses would hold, especially since four layers of old shingles already proved the wood could bear a heavy load.

The museum’s most treasured feature—15 historic murals painted by U.S. Army airmen during the war—required special care. Workers covered them in layers of plastic during construction. A water stain on the face of first territorial governor John Allen Campbell remains; repairing it would cost an estimated $20,000. The exterior walls still have no insulation, allowing the murals to “breathe” and avoid condensation damage. A new HVAC system will help regulate temperature for preservation.

Inside, the original 1942 globe lights still hang. But the old plywood wainscoting and fiberboard ceilings are gone. New “Lego-like” brick walls covered in drywall can be reconfigured for future exhibits. Museum staff have researched and written 21 new history panels honoring Wyoming veterans, from a WWII radioman who climbed Devils Tower to a Navy WAVE who became a postmaster. Additional display cases will feature items never shown before.

The museum reopens May 16 with a new parking area, wheelchair ramp, and fire door. “They will know they’ve reached a museum,” Woodward says. For a building never meant to survive the war, that is a final victory.