Cheyenne, Wyoming

[plinko]

Cheyenne is obviously one of the smaller state capitals, with a city population of about 60,000 and a metro population of about 100,000. Given its isolation in general, there isn't much there.

We were staying in Fort Collins, Colorado and decided to make the 45 mile drive to have lunch and get a new state for the kids.

The state capitol building was under substantial renovation and oddly we struggled to find a place to eat lunch on a random Wednesday. We ended up at some train themed diner.


CHEYENNE 001 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 002 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 003 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 004 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 005 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 006 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 007 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 008 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 009 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 010 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 011 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


The true gem of Cheyenne is the Depot Museum. Cheyenne was a big railroad town, and the historic train depot is wonderful.

CHEYENNE 013 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 014 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 015 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 016 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 017 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 018 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 019 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 020 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 021 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 022 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 023 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 024 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 025 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 026 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 027 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 028 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 029 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 030 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 031 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 032 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr


CHEYENNE 033 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

[plinko]

CHEYENNE 012 by Michael Stroh, on Flickr

[dktshb]

Very nice! It is kind of refreshing how civilization form the Colorado cities ends a few miles before the boarder. Driven I-25 to I-80 or in reverse many times and never saw Cheyenne. I have stayed in Laramie tho, which is a small college town.

[DetroitSky]

Nice! I've always found myself interested in the isolated small cities in that part of the country.

Would love to see more!

[xzmattzx]

Nice pictures! I was there in July 2020, and had a similar story to you: I was staying in Fort Collins, and I wanted to check off another state, so I headed up there. The difference for me was that since I was staying in Denver that night, also headed east so I could visit Nebraska as well, then headed south to Fort Morgan and headed west. Like you, I found Cheyenne to be pretty quiet. But I was there on a Sunday morning, so that would be expected.

In addition to the train station, there are several great historic buildings on the Lincoln Highway within a couple blocks. The building stock is pretty good there.

[craigs]

Heading eastward across the country in 1989, I spent a night in Laramie. I arrived late, and it was surprisingly vibrant--there were people out 'cruising' the main drag, and I was able to get pizza after 10 pm. The next morning, I set out on a side trip to Cheyenne before hitting Denver and points east. Cheyenne was a more substantial cityscape than Laramie, as your excellent photos attest, but man--it was so dead, even compared to Laramie. I guess some things don't change.

[EastSideHBG]

Nice!

[Mr. Franks]

Thanks for sharing!

[Wigs]

A city inside of a State that most North Americans don't know much about.

I love all of the brick and stone, and the roaming Bison.
Thanks for sharing!

[Wpg_Guy]

Charming!

[MplsTodd]

Love the map inlay in the train station floor! Given how poorly We Americans understand geography, the more maps the better!

[Smuttynose1]

Nice photos! Thanks for posting. It looks like a nice compact walkable Downtown, though, if you had trouble finding a restaurant, that can't be a good sign.

[pj3000]

Nice, if I ever make it that way, I'm heading to the Albany Bar.

[bnk]

Nice. What time of the year was those pics taken? I do not see snow but brown leaves on the trees so im guessing fall?

[xzmattzx]

If you wanted to knock another state off your list, the closest county seat in Nebraska to Cheyenne is Kimball.

I also visited Greeley, which was east of Fort Collins, where the Great Plains began.

[geomorph]

Was the model train layout in the basement of the station?

[Murphy de la Sucre]

Sure not missing anything? like some tall buildings, not even one?

[Cirrus]

My only visit to Cheyenne came in 2002. I lived in Boulder at the time, and a friend with a car--who I met on this forum--drove the two of us on a whirlwind trip stopping in Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, and Cheyenne.

But whereas Fort Collins was booming, already feeling the success of 21st Century urban redevelopment, Cheyenne felt trapped in time from about 1980. Yes, the train station and the little block of downtown buildings all the same height were charming, and beat my expectations, but crossing the border from Colorado was a jolt. This wasn't the same place.

I wonder how it feels today. Still like 1980? Still 20 years behind, making it feel like 2002? Or has it caught up? The only thing that looks different to me is the parking garage prominent in your third picture. And yeah, that looks exactly like the nicest parking garage built in a more happening town in 2002.

[mrnyc]

good pics — hmm, the town is nicer looking than i expected. or at least the main street is. and that is a handsome old train station. now if only it were put back into more use. are there any plans? or at least maybe someday?

[JMKeynes]

Great photos, but there is not enough Prozac in the world that could keep me going if I lived in a place like that.