Just under an hour's drive west of Cheyenne is Laramie, named after a French trapper who was murdered in this area in 1821. A military post was built here in 1866 to protect workers building the transcontinental railroad, and two years later the first Union Pacific train reached the town. For a time Laramie was reputedly the "wildest town in the Wild West", frequented by robbers, cattle rustlers, prostitutes and other dubious characters. Violent crime was an everyday matter, and it seemed at times that the life of a steer was worth more than the life of a man.
On the other side of the coin, Laramie was the first place in the United States where women were elected to public office. It is also the seat of the University of Wyoming, founded in 1886. The University has a rich Geology Museum (remains of Tyrannosaurus rex), an Anthropology Museum and a new American Heritage and Art Museum (architect Antoine Predock). Other features of interest in the town are the Laramie Plains Museum, the Rocky Mountains Herbarium and the Wyoming Territorial Park, with the Territorial Prison in which Butch Cassidy was once confined.
The Abraham Lincoln Memorial Monument is located on Interstate 80 and is 10 miles south of Laramie. It is an unusual design done up in vertically joined rocks with a 13 foot high bust of Lincoln on the top. Robert Russin of the University of Wyoming built the monument in 1959.
The Laramie Mountains are a range of mountains on the Eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains. Most of the peaks are in the 9000 to 9500 foot range. The Laramie Mountains are named after the Laramie River that flows through the range.
Address: Laramie Area Chamber of Commerce, 800 South Third Street, Laramie, WY 82070-4420, United States
Phone: 1 (307) 745-7339, Fax: 1 (307) 745-4624
The Laramie Plains Museum is housed in the beautifully restored Ivinson Mansion in Laramie, WY. The museum features history of the region coupled with the family background of the Ivinsons. Throughout the Laramie Plains Museum visitors will find rooms done up in the original style filled with period pieces.
The unusually named area of Vedauwoo is located in the Laramie Range of the Rocky Mountains. It is a hot spot for rock climbers who come from far and wide to climb the strange and unusual rock formations. Loosely translated, the name Vedauwoo is a Native American word meaning earth bound sprits.
The Wyoming Children's Museum located in Laramie, makes a great outing for families. Interactive displays and lots of fun things to do will keep the youngsters occupied for hours. Also on site are animals including a great horned owl called Hissy.
Wyoming Territorial Park located in Laramie, is a restored prison. The building was built in 1872 and housed some famous outlaws including Butch Cassidy. Also on site is a Horse Barn Exhibit that features displays on the prison and the city of Laramie. There are large grounds and picnic tables for those who pack a lunch.
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Laramie
