Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The easiest public transportation in Casper is
The Bus
(307/265-1313,
www.catcbus.com
,
6:30am-6:30pm Mon.-Fri., $1 general, $0.75 students, $0.50 reduced,
free for children 5 and under), a fixed-route transit system. The Casper Area Transportation
Coalition also offers
Dial-a-Ride,
which must be reserved before 3pm at least one day in
advance; it's better to reserve two days early. The cost is $5, or $2 for seniors and people
with special needs, $1 for children 12 and under accompanied by an adult. Local taxi ser-
vice is provided by
Casper Cab
(307/234-8294) and
RC Cab
(307/235-5203).
Nestled in a high basin between the Laramie and Medicine Bow Mountains, Laramie (pop-
ulation 31,312, elevation 7,173 feet) is a charming combination of Old West frontier town
and sophisticated university town, all with immediate proximity to a phenomenal natural
playground that envelops the city.
Like so many cities in the region, Laramie can trace its roots back to a fort, Fort John
Buford, built in 1866 to protect travelers on the pioneer trails, most notably the Overland
Trail. In 1867, railroad workers plotting the course through the Laramie Valley rumbled into
town, bringing with them numerous businesses to support their way of life. When the first
passengers disembarked from the Union Pacific train in Laramie City in 1868, there were
23 saloons ready for them to wet their whistles.
Fort Buford, by then known as Fort Sanders, was abandoned in 1882, but other signific-
ant structures had been built in Laramie. The Wyoming Territorial Prison was first built in
1872 as a response to the lawlessness of the area. And in 1887, Wyoming University, now
known as the University of Wyoming, opened its doors to both men and women. Incident-
ally, women in Laramie were the first in the United States to sit on a jury and to vote, both
in 1870.
Today, Laramie continues to be among the most progressive cities in the state, although
it hasn't lost any of its cowboy swagger. The nearly 150-year-old downtown buildings are
beautiful and authentic examples of the finest frontier architecture. From old-school quilt
shops to herb stores, cowgirl yarn shops to outdoor stores, downtown Laramie is a charming
mix of old and new West. For proof, look no further than Ivinson and First Streets, where
cowboy and motorcycle bars share customers with a vegetarian café and a global cuisine
bistro. The town is full of important historic sites and an arresting spectrum of museums.
The university gives Laramie just enough academic culture to keep the town young and vi-
