Description: Completed in 1882 at a cost of $65,000 this monolithic 60-foot high granite pyramid was built by the Union Pacific Railroad Company. It stands on the highest elevation (8,247 feet) of the original transcontinental route. Until 1901, when the railroad was relocated several miles to the south, it passed close by the north side of the monument where once stood the rail town of Sherman. Exit 329 off I-80 near Laramie

Description: The University of Wyoming Art Museum presents and collects world-class art and objects by regional, national and international artists, and art from the American West. As an academic museum and a leader in the arts, the University of Wyoming Art Museum concentrates on furthering programs that engage students and visitors in discussions that broaden an understanding of diverse perspectives, viewpoints, and cultures. Through its Museum as Classroom approach, the University of Wyoming Art Museum places art at the center of learning for all ages, supports the academic mission…

Description: Summit Information Center is where the imposing 13-foot Abraham Lincoln Memorial Monument stands. It was sculpted by University of Wyoming art professor Robert Russin in 1959 to commemorate the highest point on the Lincoln Highway. Look for the Henry Joy monument surrounded by a fence with four Lincoln Highway markers. There are interesting displays inside the building and great views outside. The bust of Abe Lincoln now stands proudly at Sherman Summit, the highest point on Interstate 80. Click Here to read about the historic Lincoln Highway or…

Description: Built in 1872 and restored in 1989, the prison is the highlight of the WTPSHS. Pick up a brochure in the gift shop and head toward the prison for a self-guided tour. (Development of an audio tour system is in the works.) Plan to spend at least an hour inside. Stops along the tour include: furnished cells, the prisoners’ dining area, guard’s quarters, infirmary, women’s quarters, laundry room, warden’s office, and various exhibit galleries. New exhibit’s include: Found During Restoration: Artifacts Uncovered (including items found during the History…

Description: Early in the morning of September 6, 1870, Louisa Ann Gardner Swain became the first woman in the world to cast a ballot under laws granting women the right to vote with full civil equality with men. This law was contained in the 1869 Wyoming Suffrage Act, the first of its kind anywhere in the world. The Wyoming Women’s History house was constructed in 2003 to memorialize these extraordinary events that gave Wyoming its nickname, “The Equality State”. The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday during the summer…

Description: The University of Wyoming Insect Museum is the only research collection of insects in the state of Wyoming. Present holdings are estimated at more than a quarter of a million specimens. It is an important regional resource, as well as a collection of national and international significance. Holdings are particularly strong in the major orders Hymenoptera (53%), Diptera (12%), Lepidoptera (10%), and Coleoptera (9%). Several unique voucher collections are housed at University of Wyoming including the Pawnee National Grasslands Collection, Johnston and Wyodak Power Plant Collections, Hanna Strip-Mine…

Description: The UW Planetarium is a facility of the University of Wyoming Department of Physics and Astronomy. The Planetarium offers shows for the public, as well as for K-12 and college classes and community groups. The UW Planetarium first opened in 1969 and has served the community for many years with shows for the public, for K-12 students, and for college astronomy teaching. Our planetarium is equipped with a Spitz starball. The University of Wyoming Harry C. Vaughan Planetarium is located in the basement of the Physical Science building.…

Description: The Department of Anthropology at the University of Wyoming has been an archaeological repository for over 50 years. Today the University of Wyoming Archaeological Repository (UWAR) is estimated to contain more than a million items from at least 25,000 sites found throughout the state, which represents the single largest assembly of archaeological materials anywhere in Wyoming. The University is a federally designated repository for archaeological collections recovered from Wyoming’s public lands, which cover approximately half of the 97,014 square miles in the state. UWAR also houses extensive collections…

Description: The University of Wyoming Geological Museum in Laramie functions to support both public education and scientific research. Wyoming is rich in geologic treasures and the Museum presents to the visitor some glimpse of this geologic diversity. Housing more than 50,000 cataloged fossil, rock, and mineral specimens, it is an important source of information for researchers throughout the world. The UW Geological Museum is open Monday-Saturday 10 am- 4 pm CLOSED SUNDAYS & HOLIDAYS

Description: The museum has a wide range of exhibits. See displays on Native American materials from the Plains, Rocky Mountains, Southwest and Arctic, as well as displays on the material culture and artistry from throughout the world, including Africa, Polynesia, Australia, and Asia.

Description: The museum is partially housed in a 1907 Hahn’s Peak and Pacific Railroad depot. Its exhibits depict the general history of the Centennial Valley. Topics include mining, lumbering, ranching, and railroading. A 1944 Union Pacific caboose and many large pieces of ranching, farming, and mining equipment are on site. We’re open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Thursday through Monday, noon to 4 PM. In September, we’re open Saturday and Sunday, noon to 4 PM. Admission is always free, but donations are gratefully accepted. If you’d like to…

Description: The Laramie Union Pacific Depot officially opened at 7:00pm, September 6th, 1924. This station was built and served as Laramie

Description: Set on the property of the magnificent Ivinson Mansion, the Laramie Plains Museum is one of the region’s finest historic house museums. Thousands of visitors from around the country and the world view its collections each year. Located between 6th and 7th Streets on Ivinson Street, it is a must-see when visiting Laramie, Wyoming, 45 miles west of Cheyenne on Interstate 80. The Ivinson Mansion was saved from demolition in 1972, and has been fully restored to its original opulence because of the Laramie community. It is the…

Description: The American Heritage Center (AHC) is the University of Wyoming’s (UW) repository of manuscripts collections, rare books, and the university archives. Many universities have primary source repositories. Few have repositories as extensive and significant as the AHC. More importantly, few universities have such repositories as welcoming and accessible to undergraduate and graduate students. Internationally known for its historical collections the AHC first and foremost serves the students and citizens of Wyoming. The AHC sponsors a wide range of scholarly and popular programs including lectures, symposia, and exhibits. Not…