Relayhorse e-magazine March 2018 RHeM mayl 2018 5 8 18 FINAL | Page 7

Frontier Auto Museum
Owned and operated by the Wandler family who have been Gillette natives since 1962. Leon Wandler’s passion for old
cars was passed on to his sons. As time went by the brothers delved into muscles cars and drag racing, but when Jeff
Wandler got older he took up an interest in his dad’s older cars. Jeff and Leon started going to the auctions together to
buy old gas pumps and also got a few local signs to restore to. After Leon passed away in 2004, Jeff continued to take
care of the cars and
add to the whole
collection. The new
petroleum collect-
ibles hobby ended
up taking on its
own life with Jeff’s
ultimate goal was
to make a public
display with col-
lection he and his
father had started
together. In 2015
when he heard that
the Quilt Nook at
211 West 2nd Street
was for sale. He
soon learned that it
had been originally
built for the Ford
dealership in 1949.
He was able to ac-
quire the building
and the vision of the museum was became a reality when he and his daughter Briana and son-in-law BJ open their doors
in January of 2016. The Frontier Auto Museum is open Monday-Friday 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Admission is $8.00 for adults, Kids 12
& under are free. Seniors, Military and groups of 5+ are $5.00
THE ROCKPILE MUSEUM
The Frontier Car Museum is not the only kid on the block with history to share with you. The Rockpile Museum, located
at 900 W 2nd St, offers a look back into the history and culture of the Powder River basin. They offer both permanent
and temporary displays for visitors to enjoy. Currently on display is “Views of Vanuatu: WWII Through the Lens of Jack
Bennick” This display showcases never-before-seen photographs taken by Gillette nat ive Jack Bennick during his time of
service in the South Pacific with the
U.S. Navy.
Visitors to the museum will also enjoy
their collections of rifles, saddles,
Native American artifacts, fossils,
quilts, and other memorabilia. Kids are
a big fan of the “dress-up” area and
the hands-on activities. A video tour
of an excavation and blasting at a coal
mine is also available for visitors to
watch during their visit to the muse-
um. There is a little bit of history for
every age to enjoy and discover. The
Rockpile Museum is open Monday -
Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
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