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Laramie - Wyoming

In May 1868, Laramie was a tent city awaiting the tracks which were to bind the nation together. The tracks were laid through town that month and the dusty encampment quickly became a permanent community of 3,000 people.

Like other western railway towns, Laramie had a few upstanding citizens, a few stockmen who came to town every so often, and a whole lot of rowdies, rustlers, gamblers, thieves and transient riffraff. However, before the year was out, a group of town leaders organized a vigilante posse and chased most of the badmen out of the city. Then most of the rest of the population departed for newer railway towns and Laramie was left with 1,500 residents.

What to See & Do

Today, Laramie is Wyoming's third-largest city, and a university town, with the University of Wyoming being the state's only four-year college. The number of students today (10,000) far surpasses the original population of the early railway town. Most of the university buildings are constructed of Wyoming sandstone. Amateur and professional geologists should visit the university's Geological Museum. Located in the east wing of the Geology Building, the museum shows the geological history of what is now Wyoming over the past two billion years. The museum contains a skeleton of a giant Brontosaurus.

Another historical highlight of the city is Wyoming Territorial Park, at the Snowy Lake exit of Interstate 80. The park includes a museum inside the former Wyoming Territorial Prison (built in 1872). The displays commemorate the fur trading and mountain man era, Laramie's railroad days and the period since statehood. During the summer months, the park stages entertainment and arts and crafts shows.

Day Trips from Laramie

A particularly fine scenic drive leads through the Medicine Bow Range (also called the Snowy Range) southwest of Laramie via Highway 130, with the road re-joining Interstate 80 at Walcott, west of Rawlins. The route first passes Centennial, climbing to Snowy Range Pass, at 10,800 feet. Recreation areas throughout the mountain drive include campgrounds, picnic areas and fishing sites. The road passes several crystal lakes and passes under several 12,000-foot peaks which give the Medicine Bows their nickname, the Snowy Range. The 94-mile loop makes an extremely scenic alternate route if you're westbound from Laramie, or a superb day drive -- returning to Laramie via Interstate 80.

Another scenic route (Highway 210) leads through the Medicine Bow National Forest, east of Laramie, to Curt Gowdy State Park and Cheyenne. To get to Highway 210, drive southeast from Laramie on Interstate 80.

There is a private campground in Laramie, plus several public campgrounds in the national forest to the east.

Where to Eat

The Cowboy Bar and Grill, at 309 South 3rd Street offers family dining in a Western atmosphere, with a dining room and cocktail lounge.

Another western-style restaurant is the Cavalryman Supper Club, located 1.75 miles south of I-80 on Highway 287. It features prime rib, seafood and steaks. The club also has a cocktail lounge.

Camping

Riverside Campground
Off I-80 at Curtis and McCue Streets. Features tenting near the Laramie River, playground, laundry, store, and full hook-ups.

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For more information on Laramie and area,
go to the home page of the
Albany County Tourism Board.