05/08/2025
📸 Throwback Thursday continues our celebration of Historic Preservation Month—a chance to look back at Wyoming’s rich history and the efforts to preserve it.
Today, we’re showcasing the Wyoming Territorial Prison in Laramie. Built in 1872, this imposing stone structure housed some of the West’s most notorious outlaws, including the infamous Butch Cassidy. As one of the oldest buildings in the state, it played a vital role in law enforcement during Wyoming’s early years.
After the prison was decommissioned in 1903, the site fell into disrepair, eventually being used as part of the University of Wyoming’s agricultural experiment station. By the late 20th century, the historic buildings were at risk of being lost entirely.
Thankfully, community advocates and the Wyoming Territorial Park Association spearheaded a restoration effort in the 1990s, transforming the site into a State Historic Site. Today, visitors can tour the restored prison, walk through preserved cellblocks, and explore exhibits about frontier justice.
Thanks to dedicated preservationists, the Wyoming Territorial Prison stands as a vivid reminder of Wyoming’s rugged past—and a testament to the power of saving our heritage.
