Source 2026 Wyoming Official Travel Guide - Wyoming Official Travel Guide
10 Ways to Explore Our State
2025-12-30 10:00:03
MUST-SEE ATTRACTIONS
10 WAYS TO EXPLORE OUR STATE WITH WESTERN HISTORY IN MIND
Wyoming is a land steeped in heritage and lore, from cowboys and outlaws to ancient peoples and sacred sites. Join us as we explore Wyoming’s spirited past and vibrant present at these historical and cultural gems that make the West endlessly fascinating.
1. WYOMING STATE MUSEUM, Cheyenne At the Wyoming State Museum, you can delve into Native American and coal-mining history and the people, places and events that shaped the Cowboy State.
2. WIND RIVER INDIAN RESERVATION, near Lander From year-round cultural events to the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative restoring bison to the area, the Wind River Indian Reservation, one of the 10 largest in the country, offers multifaceted aspects of Wyoming’s Native American culture and heritage.
3. WYOMING TERRITORIAL PRISON, Laramie Butch Cassidy spent 18 months in the Wyoming State Penitentiary, now the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site. Learn about Wyoming’s outlaws by investigating restored buildings and attending special events such as Butch Cassidy Days.
4. HEART MOUNTAIN INTERPRETIVE CENTER, Powell A challenging past provides the chance for education and insight at the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center, a former Japanese- American confinement site during World War II. Discover its story told by the people who once lived there through artifacts, photographs and interpretive tours.
5. PIEDMONT CHARCOAL KILNS HISTORIC SITE, Piedmont Located on the edge of Piedmont, a former logging spot turned ghost town, these kilns once produced important charcoal that was carried west to Utah on the Union Pacific Railroad.
6. LEGEND ROCK STATE PETROGLYPH SITE, Thermopolis Step back into ancient times to examine more than 92 prehistoric petroglyph panels and 300-plus petroglyph figures at this sacred Native American site near Thermopolis.
7. OUTLAW STOP, Baggs Set on the Wyoming- Colorado border, Baggs was the perfect hideout and rendezvous point for members of the Wild Bunch. See the Outlaw Stop where characters like Butch Cassidy went for a good meal and entertainment.
8. SOUTH PASS CITY, near Lander South Pass City preserves its 1867 gold rush roots with 24 historical buildings, exhibits, trails and the Carissa Gold Mine. Visitors can pan for gold or join July’s Gold Rush Days.
9. MEDICINE LODGE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE, near Hyattville Explore thousands of years of Native American history at an archaeological site that’s also rich with wildlife viewing. See petroglyphs and pictographs on a vast sandstone cliff, take a hike to spot prairie dogs or hook glistening brook and brown trout.
10. INDEPENDENCE ROCK STATE HISTORIC SITE, Alcova Independence Rock, dubbed the “Register of the Desert,” bears 5,000 pioneer names, the earliest from 1824. Named after a July Fourth celebration with William Sublette’s party, it became a key landmark for travelers passing through. Rising 136 feet, it overlooks Devil’s Gate, where the river carved deeply into the rock.
MORE NATIONAL & STATE HISTORIC SITES
Make Wyoming’s robust assortment of national and state historic sites part of your route. Turn to p. 18 to map your road trip. Learn more about Wyoming’s historic sites: travelwy.com/historical-sites and travelwy.com/forts-and-battlefields.
» Ames Monument State Historic Site
» Camp Douglas Officers’ Club State Historic Site
» Connor Battlefield State Historic Site
» Fort Bonneville State Historic Site
» Fort Bridger State Historic Site
» Fort Fetterman State Historic Site
» Fort Fred Steele State Historic Site
» Fort Laramie National Historic Site
» Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site
» Fort Reno State Historic Site
» Fort Supply State Historic Site
» Granger Stage Station State Historic Site
» Historic Governors’ Mansion State Historic Site
» Names Hill State Historic Site
» National Historic Trails Interpretive Center
» Oregon Trail Ruts State Historic Site
» Point of Rocks Stage Station State Historic Site
» Quebec 01 Missile Alert Facility State Historic Site
» Register Cliff State Historic Site
» Trail End State Historic Site
» Wyoming Pioneer Memorial Museum
IMPORTANT FIRSTS
1869 The Wyoming Territory approved the first unconditional law in the U.S. permanently guaranteeing women their inherent right to vote and hold office more than 50 years before women could vote and hold office in the U.S.
1872 Yellowstone was designated as America’s first national park by President Ulysses S. Grant.
1904 The term “dude ranch” was coined at Eatons’ Ranch in Wolf, the country’s first and oldest dude ranch, which still welcomes guests today.
1906 Devils Tower was designated as America’s first national monument by President Theodore Roosevelt.
EXPLORE WYOMING HISTORY
Delve deeper into our historical sites and cultural treasures to learn about lawless legends, storied mining days, Indigenous peoples and more: travelwy.com/outlaw-history and travelwy.com/cultural-sites.
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