The State Capital Building of Wyoming is located in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The village became a city with the arrival of the Union Pacific Railroad as it made its way across the United States as part of the Transcontinental Railroad. The crews of the Union Pacific got to Cheyenne in 1867 and they continued westward with the railroad. Cheyenne became the Territorial government in 1869 thanks to the railroad coming to town.
The Wyoming State Capital began construction in 1886 when the Ninth Territorial Legislative Assembly authorized it. The cost of the building was not to exceed 150,000. There were five members on the commission that were to select the site of the Capital, purchase the property, select an architect and take care of the bidding process. Then Governor Francis E. Warren selected the members of this commission.
A Renaissance Revival style was chosen which is reminiscent of the Capital Building in our Nation's Capital Washington, D.C. The first two courses of the building are made of sandstone which was transported from Fort Collins, Colorado. The rest of the building used sandstone from the quarries of Rawlins, Wyoming.
There is twenty four carat gold leaf on the dome of the Capital Building. This dome is visible from all directions when visitors enter the city. Renovations were completed in 1980 on the Capital Building and they included stripping and sanding the woodwork, painting the walls according to the original designs, and replacing the wooden beams and floors with steel and concrete. They also modernized the wiring, heat, air conditioning and plumbing.
Visitors to the Wyoming State Capital Building can take tours throughout the week. The Capital is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Visitor's services and self guided tours are available from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. Guided tours are available from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm Monday through Friday. The Capital Building is closed on weekends and all Holidays.
Visiting the Wyoming State Capital Building is not the only attraction in Cheyenne. Visitors to the city can also enjoy the Cheyenne Depot Museum where the town got its beginning with the help of the Union Pacific Railroad. The museum is on the second floor of the west side of the depot. It features an interactive museum for kids of all ages. There is a restaurant located in the museum that enables diners to watch the trains roll by or stop to add a car or change out the crew.
Guests of Cheyenne in the summer can take in the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. It is the "Granddaddy of them All'' and features one of the largest pay outs for the cowboys and cowgirls. They have midway rides, star studded entertainment and professional rodeo.
If visitors want a serene Cheyenne experience they can take in Curt Gowdy State Park for water sports, fishing, picnicking and camping. The park is a few miles outside Cheyenne. There are plenty of hotels in the area for visitors to stay in.
