From dinosaurs to the Old West, Cheyenne has a lot of stories to tell. Some of the best places to find these stories are at the various museums in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The Capitol City has plenty to show off, including several kid-friendly museums.
Cheyenne Depot Museum
Address: 121 W. 15th St. Cheyenne, WY 82001
Phone: (307) 638-6338
Price: $10 for adults, $5 for kids
We’ll start with the spot that started it all - the Cheyenne Depot. Cheyenne was founded in the late 1860’s as a stop for the Union Pacific Railroad, and the then wooden railroad depot was one of the first buildings in town. Today the beautiful, historic building houses the Cheyenne Depot Museum, where you can learn about Cheyenne’s beginnings as a Hell on Wheels town to the modern day story of the railroad. Several hands-on displays make this museum one of Cheyenne’s interactive museums as well.
Among the unique features is a massive miniature railroad that recreates the old George Town Loop in painstaking detail. Make sure to check out the audio tour for the museum as well! You can also visit the Cheyenne Depot gift shop for some unique souvenirs, books, and clothing. Doors open at 9 AM and close at 5 PM Monday through Saturday, 11 AM to 3 PM on Sundays.
Wyoming State Museum
Address: 2301 Central Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82001
Phone: (307) 777-8021
Price: Free
If there was one place to go to learn about what makes Wyoming, well, Wyoming, this is the place to be. The Wyoming State Museum covers the Equality State from prehistory to modern times. The museum itself focuses on being easy to comprehend, fun to explore and to give plenty of hands-on learning for younger visitors, including school trips.
The state museum is ADA accessible and, best of all, it’s a completely free experience!
Nelson Museum of the West
Address: 1714 Carey Ave. Cheyenne, WY 82001
Phone: (307) 635-7670
Price: $5 per person
The Nelson Museum of the West represents one of the absolute “must see” museums for any fan of the Old West. The museum features one of the largest collections of Old West artifacts in the nation, spread over three floors, each piece with a story of its own. It also features a lifetime of taxidermy, with dozens upon dozens of deer, bear, antelope, wildebeest, and even lions - most of which were hunted and taken by Bob Nelson himself.
Across the street from the Museum of the West is the Nelson Military Museum. An extension of the original, the military museum honors our service members with U.S. military uniforms, weapons and artifacts from across American military history. The museum costs just $5 for entry, and is open seasonally from May through October.
Cowgirls of the West Museum
Address: 205 W. 17th Street Cheyenne, WY 82001
Phone: (307) 638-4994
Price: Free
Cowgirls of the West is the smallest museum on this list and nonetheless one of the most important. In the city where women’s suffrage was granted for the first time in American history, it’s no wonder it would feature a museum honoring the cowgirls who helped shape the region. Artifacts, memorabilia, and even a small theater tell the tales of the cowgirls who shaped the West.
The museum is free to see, but, like the Nelson museum, it too is open seasonally during the late spring and summer months.
Messengers Old West Museum
Address: 616 Crook Ave. Cheyenne, WY 82001
Phone: (307) 635-8959
Price: Free
One of the hidden gems of museums in Cheyenne, Wyoming is the Messengers Old West Museum tribute to the cowboy and frontier spirit. This museum also features one of the most impressive wagon collections around, from sheepherders wagons and covered wagons to racing wagons used in modern competitions, this museum is the work of passion of one family - and it shows.
Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum
Address: 4610 Carey Avenue Cheyenne, WY 82001
Phone: (307) 778-7290
Price: $17.50 for adults, $15 for seniors and military, $12 for kids
Cheyenne Frontier Days is the world’s largest outdoor rodeo and western celebration, and is one of the biggest draws to Cheyenne during the year. It also only happens for a week in July. The CFD Old West Museum is a great way to learn about the Daddy Of ‘Em All while you’re visiting - whether it’s during Frontier Days or not. The Old West Museum shows you the history and the thrills of Frontier Days, and also features the museum’s massive wagon collection.
Quebec 01 Missile Alert Facility
Address: Exit 39 Cheyenne, WY 82001
Phone: (307) 422-3425
Price: $8 for adults, $7 for military, $4 for kids
Cheyenne’s heritage isn’t just the Wild West and Rodeo, the military is also a big part of who we are as a community. Perhaps one of the biggest roles Cheyenne played was during the Cold War when F.E. Warren Air Force Base became one of the primary hubs of the nation’s nuclear arsenal and defense system, a role it still plays today. No museum shows this off better than the ever unique Quebec 01 Missile Alert Facility. This is a one of a kind place - the only minuteman missile facility that gives you full access to learn about how U.S. airmen lived and worked during one of the Cold War.
Explore Museums in Cheyenne, Wyoming Like Never Before!
Museums in Wyoming can cover a massive amount of topics, and Cheyenne’s collection of them is no different. Explore the museums in the Capitol City and discover stories of the railroad, the Wild West, rodeo, and our military heritage and much, much more! Explore, learn, and have some fun in Cheyenne!