History of the Bayard Chimney Rock Museum
The depot that
stands along the tracks at the south end of Main
Street in Bayard was built in 1928 and was set
to be demolished by BNSF in 1992. A group of
Bayard residents formed a non-profit corporation
in 1993 with the goal of preserving the old
building and using it to display memorabilia
related to the history of the Bayard area.
Their mission was
accomplished. The building was sound and
still is today. There is not a crack in any of
the walls; the windows are original and intact;
and the woodwork has never needed to be
refinished. Citizens from the community have
donated many unique and irreplaceable items for
the museum ranging from pictures of Bayards
schools and graduating classes from the late
1800s through 2006 to a huge, stuffed
buffalo head, a cookie baked in 1890, and
massive wooden boots once worn by a Russian army
guard who emigrated to Morrill County. There
is also a nice collection of old farm machinery
and a working windmill. The museum is clean,
well staffed by volunteers and an interesting
resource for visitors and local schools. The
city provides the utilities; various types of
fundraising take place to provide for operating
expenses.
