Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
chambers, completed in 1917. The building measures 300 feet in length, and its gold dome
is 146 feet high. The capitol underwent a $7.6 million renovation during the 1970s, and the
dome has been gilded six times, most recently in 1988. When celebrating its centennial in
1987, the original cornerstone was removed, and the documents that had been buried in-
side—a map and a list of territorial officers, among others—were removed and entrusted to
the state archives.
From the 1st floor, visitors can enter the rotunda and gaze up three stories to the dome,
created from stained glass imported from England. The governor's office is off the ro-
tunda on the 1st floor. The 2nd floor houses the legislative chambers, decorated by four
large Western murals with ceilings of Tiffany stained glass inlaid with the state seal. The
balconies on the 3rd floor are always open, and visitors can view the senate and house
chambers while they are in session. From the 3rd floor it is also easy to appreciate the
Renaissance-revival architecture of the entire building. Don't miss the 1,000-pound Tiffany
chandelier in the conference room, and look at the ornate hinges on the large cherrywood
doors. Guided tours can be arranged by calling ahead for an appointment, but if time per-
mits, walk-in requests may be accommodated.
Union Pacific Railroad Depot
At the southern end of Capitol Avenue sits the historic
Union Pacific Railroad Depot
(121
W. 15th St., 9am-5pm Mon.-Fri., 10am-5pm Sat., noon-5pm Sun.). Built in 1886, this was
once considered the finest train depot between Omaha and Sacramento. The building occu-
pies an entire city block and was reopened in 2004 after undergoing a major renovation. It
has been restored to its original beauty, and the sandstone structure is worth a visit just to
appreciate the architecture and design. During the summer there are free evening concerts
and other events in the depot plaza.
In addition to housing the Cheyenne Visitors Center and a fun restaurant, the structure
is also home to the
Cheyenne Depot Museum
(121 W. 15th St., 307/632-3905,
www.cheyennedepotmuseum.org
,
9am-6pm Mon.-Fri., 9am-5pm Sat., 11am-5pm Sun.
May-Sept., 9am-5pm Mon.-Fri., 11am-5pm Sun. Oct.-Apr., $5 adults, free for children un-
der 12). The museum focuses on the important role the railroad played in the city's develop-
ment and to the West as a whole. There are fantastic old photographs, an incredible narrow
gauge model railroad that took more than 30 years to build and was only opened to the pub-
lic in 2012, and artifacts from the station's busiest railroad days.
