Cheyenne Historic Preservation

08/20/2026

On this day in 1908, the Cheyenne Electric Railway Company’s first streetcar hit the city’s tracks.

The 5.24 miles of tracklines ran from the depot on 15th street, up Carey Avenue to West 27th just northwest of the Capitol. Then from 27th they connected with Randall Avenue and headed straight to Fort D.A. Russell. There was also a branch that went from West 27th to Cribbon Avenue and Pioneer Park to their carbarns.

Cars ran every thirty minutes between 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. with rates set at five cents (raised to seven in 1918) within the city and ten cents to the Fort.

The company operated until 1924.

📷: Images Courtesy Wyoming State Archives

1. Electric Railroad Car
2. View from UPR Depot up Capitol Ave. Railcar can be seen turning left
3. Unidentified Cheyenne Electric Railway Co. "Motorman 113"
4. Railway's Fronter Day running schedule in 1909. Wyoming Tribune
5. Electric Railroad Car

08/08/2026

On this day in 1867, the first local charter establishing the city of Cheyenne was signed. Cheyenne had about 600 citizens and was part of Dakota Territory at the time.

Union Pacific initially selected a townsite by a bridge crossing Crow Creek and named it Crow Creek Crossing. Residents renamed it Cheyenne, after the Indigenous plains tribe, and incorporated the town before the railroad’s arrival in November.

Two hundred businesses were established in town the same month the railroad arrived, and there were 5,000 residents by July the following year. This boom granted Cheyenne the nickname “The Magic City of the Plains.”

📷: Courtesy Wyoming State Archives - First UP train arriving in Cheyenne

06/25/2026

In 1919, St. John’s Hospital transitioned into the Memorial Hospital of Laramie County.

Established on December 7, 1883, at 23rd Street and Evans Avenue, St. John’s was Cheyenne’s first permanent hospital, replacing earlier tent and pop-up operations.

The facility expanded after a 1900s typhoid epidemic thanks to community and Union Pacific Railroad support.

Its original horse-drawn ambulance wagon is still featured today in the Cheyenne Frontier Days parade.

📷: Images Courtesy Wyoming State Archives

01: St. John's Hospital
02: Nurses in front of St. John's Hospital
03: Far view of Hospital with Capitol dome in background
04: Memorial Hospital of Laramie County

06/18/2026

🌧️While we all may be hoping for some rain this year, take a look at some historic floods of Cheyenne's past.

📷 Images Courtesy Wyoming State Archives

01: July, 1896 Flood. Looking down Capitol Ave from the Stock Growers National Bank.
02: 1890s Flood. The Idleman Block at 16th and Ferguson Street.
03: 1929 Hereford Dam break. All bridges into Cheyenne (with the exception of the Lincoln Highway) were wiped out.
04: 1985 Flood. Noted as one of the worst natural disasters in Wyoming's history.

06/16/2026

We had a great time celebrating the Asher building as the LeClerq Jones award winner this year.

Check out these graphics to learn more about the building's history, and the local news station K2 also covered the event!

https://www.yourwyominglink.com/news/local/cheyenne-asher-building-wins-leclercq-jones-preservation-award/article_b6cdda38-55b8-4112-9b68-797837e310ef.html

06/05/2026

In 1868, when Wyoming was still part of the Dakota Territory, Cheyenne residents of the Masonic Fraternity sought to build Wyoming’s first Masonic Temple.

The fraternity—which counted most of Wyoming’s governors as members—frequently laid the cornerstones of the city’s landmark buildings. On this day in 1901, they finally laid the cornerstone for their own at 17th Street and Ferguson Avenue (now Carey Avenue).

Disaster struck just two years later when a fire caused $50,000 in damage (nearly $2 million today). With support, the Masons rebuilt.

Following a 1929 expansion, the impressive three-story Romanesque structure remains a beautifully preserved example of Cheyenne's turn-of-the-century architectural landscape.

It was listed in the National Register of Historic places in 1984.

📷 Images courtesy Wyoming State Archives:
01: Temple fire, 1903
02: Rebuilt temple
03: Exterior of temple, 1984
04: Interior meeting room of temple, 1984

06/04/2026

Don't forget to join us at the Asher Building (500 W. 15th Street) this Saturday from 12 - 3 for the chance to tour the building, learn about it's architectural history, and hear about its restoration story.

This event is free and open to the public.

The Cheyenne Historic Preservation Board is proud to announce that the Asher Building at 500 W. 15th St., represented by Laurie Hutchinson, has been selected as the recipient of this year’s LeClercq Jones Award for Historic Preservation.

06/01/2026

📝It's nomination time!

Do you know of a Cheyenne home over 50 years old with incredible preservation? Nominate it for this year's Dubois Award!

The Cheyenne Historic Preservation Board is accepting nominations through July 31st to find our next historic winner.

You can put in your nomination, learn more about the award, and see past winners at our website: https://www.cheyennecity.org/Your-Government/Departments/Planning-and-Development-Department/Historic-Preservation-Board

City of Cheyenne Municipal Building located at 2101 O'Neil Avenue

05/27/2026

The Asher Building (500 W. 15th Street) is this year's LeClercq Jones award winner! Check out below to learn more!

The Cheyenne Historic Preservation Board is proud to announce that the Asher Building at 500 W. 15th St., represented by Laurie Hutchinson, has been selected as the recipient of this year’s LeClercq Jones Award for Historic Preservation.

05/18/2026

🖋 Last week, Mayor Patrick Collins signed a proclamation declaring May as "Historic Preservation Month" in Cheyenne!

🎉All citizens in Cheyenne are invited to celebrate the preservation of our recognized National Historic Landmarks and Properties throughout the City.