Laramie Things to Do

Another thing I like on many campuses is the abundance of art. There are a number of statues on the campus of the University of Wyoming ranging from old style to modern art and include the famous and the not so famous. They have a nice one of Benjamin Franklin (long a favorite person of mine) and a heartfelt one of a UW Graduate Tommy Thompson. Tommy, as he was known to all, was born with a physical handicap which he did not let affect him any more than necessary. After he got his degree he spent the next 33 years attending the gardens on the campus. He became a unique and beloved ambassador and representative of the college.

In addition to "Old Main" there are several other buildings worth seeing on the campus. One is the "Cooper House" which was built for English aristocrat and cattleman who came to Wyoming in the 1870s. He built a large cattle empire and sometime along the way built this home in Laramie. The home was purchased by the University of Wyoming in 1980. There is also Ross Hall which was named for Nellie Tayloe Ross the first woman in the country elected governor. There is also a nice greenhouse sponsored by the Botany Department.

Like churches, universities frequently have some great old architecture. From that standpoint, the most interesting building on the campus of the University of Wyoming is the "Old Main". That building was completed in 1886 and is the oldest building remaining on campus. When Wyoming was forming there was a dispute between the three largest cities for dominance. Cheyenne was named the capitol, Laramie got the university and Evanston got an insane asylum (I guess they lost?). "Old Main" was designed by Frederick Hale using the Romanesque Revival style of architecture. Hale went on to become a well-known architect in Salt Lake City.

At the same exit as the welcome center is a monument to President Abraham Lincoln formerly along the old "Lincoln Highway" made by Robert Russin, an Art Professor at the University of Wyoming in nearby Laramie, dedicated here in honor of the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's birth. There is also a monument here to Henry B. Joy the first president of the Lincoln Highway Association.

Laramie was the location of many firsts in early women's equality including: The first woman to vote in an election and the first woman to serve on a jury. Add in the rest of the state and those firsts include: The first woman elected as a Justice of the Peace, the first woman elected to a state-wide position, and the first woman elected governor. The Women's History House in Laramie honors these firsts, the women who accomplished them, and the contributions of Wyoming women since those early days. The house is sponsored by the Louisa Swain Foundation named after the first woman in the country to cast a vote in an election. Hours are 10 AM to 4 PM June through August. Admission is $2.50 for adults and $1 for students. At other times you can schedule an appointment by calling the number below.

In March 1870, Eliza Stewart Boyd's name was drawn from a list of registered voters to serve on a jury and thus became the first woman to be selected as a juror. There is a plaque down by the railroad depot commemorating where this historic trial took place.

The Horizon Christian Church and St. Lawrence Church are two more examples of the beautiful old churches in Laramie. I frequently find churches to have the prettiest architecture. They are both part of the Downtown Laramie Historic District that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

There is a very nice veterans memorial on the grounds of the Albany County Courthouse, honoring county veterans. I feel it is very important to remember the sacrifices made by our veterans and their contributions to our freedom and our way of life.

The Laramie Railroad Depot was completed in 1924 and replaces an earlier one that was built in 1917 but was destroyed by fire. The railroad played a huge importance in the early development of Laramie and they have a Railroad Heritage Park at the depot. The depot is part of the Downtown Laramie Historic District and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The first library in Laramie was a private lending library established in 1870. In 1897 the Albany County Public Library was established making it one of the earliest county libraries in the country. The beautiful Carnegie Library Building was built in 1905 near the county courthouse. Carnegie libraries almost always feature great architecture and the one here is no exception.

Laramie has an extensive historic area with quite a few buildings of historical and/or architectural interest. Laramie has 3 districts and about 20 individual sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

See also my West Laramie Page.

Your first stop in Laramie should be the Chamber of Commerce/Visitors Center. Here you can pick up a map of the town, informative brochures about local and nearby attractions, hotels and restaurants, and recommendations from friendly and knowledgeable locals on how to best enjoy your visit based on your budget and time available. Hours are 8 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday.

St. Matthew's Cathedral is a beautiful example of the Gothic Revival style of architecture and was dedicated in 1896. The cathedral was built of native sandstone quarried near Laramie and was designed by famous architect William Halsey Wood. The cathedral is one of many buildings in Laramie listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Laramie also has a number of nice murals throughout the downtown area. You can pick up a brochure showing the locations of these, and more, murals from the visitor's center. It is always nice to see town beautifying their area with art. I really like the mural in the main photo.

This interesting Alligator Statue was created by artist John Kearney in 1973 and is on display in front of the Historic Carnegie Library Building. It is always nice to see towns beautifying their areas with art and sculptures.