Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Historic Governors' Mansion
The Historic Governors' Mansion (300 E. 21st St., 307/777-7878, 9am-5pm Mon.-Sat.
June-Aug., 9am-5pm Wed.-Sat. Sept.-May, free, donations welcome) was home to each of
Wyoming's governors 1905-1976. Although the house was never intended to be a show-
place, and was intentionally built in a middle-class neighborhood just blocks from the cap-
itol building, today the mansion is a state historic site. After a $1 million renovation pro-
ject, visitors will see original decor from 1905, 1937, 1955, and the 1960s. The home was
the height of modernity when it was constructed in 1905, with indoor plumbing, hot wa-
ter, central heating, and electrical and gas fixtures. The most interesting tidbit about this
Georgian-style building is that it housed the country's first woman governor, Nellie Tayloe
Ross, 1925-1927. Visitors can view a short video about the house and its residents before
beginning their self-guided tour.
Wyoming State Museum
The Wyoming State Museum (2301 Central Ave., 307/777-7022,
www.wyomuseum.state.wy . us, 9am-4:30pm Mon.-Sat. May-Oct., 9am-4:30pm Mon.-Fri.,
10am-2pm Sat. Nov.-Apr., free) is dedicated to documenting the state's history from its
earliest inhabitants to the present day. In addition to the permanent collection, 3-4 traveling
exhibits are showcased at a time. Always on display are exhibits dedicated to prehistoric
Wyoming and its dinosaurs, the wildlife of Wyoming, the state's mining history (including
an explanation of how coal is created in nature), and a social history of the state. Other
exhibits include beautiful Native American beadwork and pottery, a vast firearms collec-
tion, and a copy of the act granting women the right to vote in the Wyoming Territory. A
hands-on history room for children is well equipped with vintage clothing, a child-size tipi,
a chuck wagon, and dinosaur and other interactive displays. As you tour the museum, you
can dial up an audio tour at 307/316-0077.
Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum
Frontier Days is such an important part of Cheyenne's local history that a museum was cre-
ated to tell the story of this Western celebration. The Old West Museum (4610 Carey Ave.,
307/778-7290, 9am-5pm Mon.-Fri., 10am-5pm Sat.-Sun., $7 adults, free for children under
12) is filled with memorabilia from the rodeo and focuses on frontier life in Wyoming. It
has more than 150 horse-drawn carriages and wagons dating back over a century along with
large Western art exhibits. There is also a fun children's history room with clever interactive
displays. The museum has extended hours during the Frontier Days festival and is conveni-
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