Lance Creek, A Day in the Life - Tiffany Thurston Welcome
Lance Creek, a Day in the Life was held on Sunday, September 13, 2026 as part of America's 250th and Explore Niobrara events.
VIDEO: Tiffany Thurston Welcomes the Audience to Lance Creek.
Good afternoon, everyone, I’d like to welcome you to a Day in the Life of Lance Creek. Please help me in thanking our 250th committee who have worked countless hours to bring Niobrara County these celebrations. They are Leslie Stewart, Richard Ladwig, JoAnn Wade, Shelia Boldon, Sandra Johnson, Debbie Sturman, Gary Bayne, and Desi Matthews. Thank you guys.
The community and local creek share their name with the geologic Lance Formation, famous for its Late Cretaceous dinosaur fossils.
Lance Creek, Wyoming formed as a town following the discovery of oil in 1917 and successful production began when major strikes were drilled in 1918.
The oil boom led to a rapid settlement and formation of the community. The local post office was officially established November 19, 1919.
The town sprang up and we were home to three grocery/ general stores operating at the same time, a small lumber yard, two bars, a bowling alley, liquor store, barber shop, and three service & gas stations. Two grade schools that consolidated to one in about 1944, a catholic church, and a Sunday school that turned into a church that still operates here every Sunday.
At its peak there were between 5000 to 10,000 people, and they ran two high school busses to both Lusk and Manville. We were home to nine different camps(-camps were place different oil companies set up groups of houses for their employees to live in. Two of the camps remain today split by the road on the way to the museum. They were on the west side of the road heading north the Conoco camp and the east side was the Marathon camp. Lance Creek was home to an airfield long enough to land a DC-3 with a Hanger. A water system was put in for the community by Conoco which they utilized as well. Conoco tanks number 1-5 were here in the Conoco yard, and remained until during the 90’s when the facility was sold to Suncor.
A fascinating piece of history was during WW II Lance Creek’s gas plant was on Hitler’s bombing list, because of the quantity of oil that was produced here. At that time Lance Creek produced a quarter of the United States oil. The gas plant sat where the Museum is today.
Lance Creek had two gyms, one built directly by Conoco the other by tax money when the school district was incorporated. We had the first softball field in the state with lights and its own generator, seven men’s teams with league play three days a week. The combined team placed as several times in the state tournament.
When the oil production dropped our community did as well. Today Lance Creek is a smaller community.
We are going to listen to some family, oil field, and church history, then move onto self-guided museum tours. My husband John, brother Justen and myself will be around to try and answer any questions. A caution, please watch for snakes as you walk thru the antique equipment and around the buildings. Thank you for coming and please enjoy the afternoon.