If you’re visiting northern Colorado or Wyoming, Cheyenne is well worth a trip for anyone who fancies themselves a history buff. You’ll find a variety of museums and historical exhibits available to check out for cheap—or free.
So what are you waiting for? Take a step back in time and get a taste of life in the west in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Here’s a history geek’s guide to the town.
First stop: The welcome center
If you’re coming into town from the south, before you hit Cheyenne’s downtown district, you’ll pass the not-to-be-missed Southeast Wyoming welcome center. The welcome center isn’t just staffed with great people and resources. It also has several fascinating exhibits that put it on par with a historical museum. Depending on your plans for the day, you may also appreciate the center’s water fountains and free coffee.
When I stopped in, there were exhibits on Women of Wyoming, dinosaur finds, gold miners, and much more. You could easily spend hours here if you wanted to.
Stop two: Grab a meal
Once you’ve had your fill, head toward downtown. If you’re hungry, I highly recommend Dad’s Cafe, especially if you have any food restrictions to deal with. (It’s a dedicated gluten-free facility.)
Stop three: The museums
One of the museums you might want to check out is the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum. It has beautiful outdoor sculptures and is near the botanical garden. If you’re in the area in July, you won’t want to miss Cheyenne Frontier Days to get your fill of cowboys, converts and fair food.
I also highly recommend the Cowgirls of the West Museum. It’s not the fanciest presentation—there’s a lot of reading—but this free museum has tons of information on the history of women in the west, particularly cowgirls, adorning its walls. (You’ll love the intricate costumes they wore.)
Speaking of free museums, the State Museum is in Cheyenne, and though I didn’t have time for a visit, I will definitely go back to check out its free exhibits, which come highly recommended.
I made a point to visit the Depot Museum because I had a train buff with me and it didn’t disappoint. Honestly, even if you don’t go inside, head over for the beautiful outdoor landscaping and gorgeous artwork outside.
Inside, you’ll find a variety of miniature train sets in an intricate display as well as a few well done exhibits on the history of the area. The museum may not be the fanciest you’ve visited, but there is plenty to see and do here, particularly if you have an interest in trains. There’s even an area with fancy, cushioned seats for you to watch the trains pass the depot.
My final recommendation for history geeks is the Nelson Museum of the West. With a $5 admission fee, this is a great resource from which to learn about Old West heritage, Native Americans, and more.
I hope these ideas help inspire you to plan a trip to Cheyenne. Need to reserve an RV for your Wyoming adventures? Head here. And if you enjoyed this article, you may also enjoy my articles on Decorah, Iowa and New Orleans on a budget.
