‘Historian, Visionary’ Edna Kennell Remembered

The woman who's driving force and pioneering effort founded the National Historical Trails Interpretive Center in Casper died late last week.

Edna Kennell was 82 years old. She was remembered at a memorial at the Trails Center on Tuesday. A release from the Casper Chamber of Commerce noted it literally took an act of Congress for Kennell to get the necessary funding to build the interpretive center.

A dreamer and a visionary, Kennell was, at one point, Wyoming State Director of the Oregon-California Trails Association. Jackie Ellis, a trails association member was also friend.

"She worked the state and congressional level and she also worked with many of the western historians.  And the dynamic personality that she had and the leadership she was able to bring. She just took it on herself."

The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center opened in August of 2002. Her efforts were acknowledged by President George W. Bush for “preserving a vital part of American history".