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 Peter Vink Blacksmith Shop - Livingston, MT Posted by:  T0SHEA
N 45° 39.857 W 110° 33.855
12T E 533944 N 5056839
In the yard behind Livingston's Yellowstone Gateway Museum one will find a pair of historic buildings, the old Urbach School and this, the Peter Vink Blacksmith Shop.
Waymark Code: WMXMD6
Location: Montana, United States
Date Posted: 01/28/2018
Views: 1
Donated and moved to the museum in 1997, Peter “Jack” Vink, Jr. used this shop for refitting wagon wheels, welding, and blacksmithing from 1903 until his death in 1949. Is stood on his Dry Creek Ranch in Paradise Valley, south of Emigrant, MT, about 22 miles south of Livingston. Along with the building itself came all of Peter's old tools, two forges, several wagon wheels and about 1,000 horse shoes. Today the blacksmith shop is put to use every summer by latter day blacksmiths to provide demonstrations of the art of blacksmithing.
Built in 1907 of concrete block simulating rusticated stone, the four room Northside School replaced several smaller wood framed schools scattered about Livingston's north side. Serving as an elementary school until 1971, the building was purchased by the Park County Museum Association in 1976, the Park County Museum opening in the building the next year. Today it is known as the Yellowstone Gateway Museum.
Today made easy to find with a dingy red wooden Northern Pacific caboose on the front lawn, the building is filled with artefacts relating to the early days of Livingston. Behind the building is a fenced yard and another building in which are displayed fire trucks, agricultural equipment, wagons, various machines and other large historic items, including another school which joined the blacksmith shop in the summer of 2000.
MUSEUM REOPENS VINK BLACKSMITH SHOP
The Yellowstone Gateway Museum has recently reopened the Vink Blacksmith Shop after volunteers repaired the roof and the forge, organized the blacksmith tools and parts, and laid a new wood floor. The shop, located in the museum’s back lot, is a snapshot in time that richly illustrates a working blacksmith shop at a transitional time when people were using both horse-powered and gasoline-powered modes of transportation. It was used by Peter Vink from 1903 until his death in 1949.
Peter Vink moved to Emigrant in 1893 from Indiana. After working various jobs and also purchasing the John Gilpin blacksmith shop in Emigrant, he married Maggie Lee in 1903. They purchased the Dry Creek Ranch in Paradise Valley, south of Emigrant, where Peter worked in his blacksmith shop. Peter was well known for his numerous skills, refitting wagon wheels, welding, and blacksmithing. Peter’s blacksmith shop was donated and moved to the museum years ago by Agnes Vink, wife of Peter “Jack” Vink, Jr.
Restoration work of the shop was led by Jem Blueher, proprietor of Anvil Wagon Works located in Livingston. He was assisted by Andy Olds. Blueher and Olds recently demonstrated the traditional art of blacksmithing using the repaired forge in the Vink blacksmith shop. Future demonstrations will be scheduled.
Though the back lot exhibits, including the blacksmith shop, one-room schoolhouse, and numerous historic vehicles, are outdoors, the indoor exhibits are in a welcoming, air conditioned space. The museum is open seven days a week from 10-5. Many family activities are offered; youth 18 and under are free.
From the Yellowstone Gateway Museum 
Operating Status: Operating
Web Address: [Web Link]
Address:
118 West Chinook Street
Livingston, MT United States
59047
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