Passing through Cheyenne 2: The Hisstoric Cheyenne Depot

Whether you're coming to Cheyenne to stay preparatory to going up very early on the 21st of August, 2017 to see the Great American Eclipse, or just passing through on your way up to the Path of Totality because you've gotten your reservations (well done, you, as the Brits say) or back from it, you may as well stop in and see all that Cheyenne has to offer.

The whole raison d'etre of Cheyenne was to serve as a railroad town - first providing lodgings for those individuals building the Union Pacific Railroad across what was then a territory, in 1867.

The historic Cheyenne Depot, located on the left as you come over the bridge from the outskirts of Cheyenne into the city proper, is one of two main places to visit if you don't have a lot of time and want to learn as much about Cheyenne and Wyoming as possible. (The other is the Wyoming State Museum which I'll cover in a subsequent post).

The Cheyenne Depot houses the Wyoming Transportation Museum, which gives a history of the city and the trains that gave it birth.

The Depot's official address is 121 W 15th Street. It's actually at the corner of Lincolnway (also known as 16th Street) and Capital avenue, set back a bit in its own plot of land. There's parking all along 15th street, or in a lot at 15th street and Thomes avenue which is 2 blocks west of the depot.

Historic Cheyenne Depot. Wyoming Transportation Museum in two floors of right-hand wing

 Around the grounds of the Depot are several very large Boots, the result of a marketing and fund-raising idea from several years ago. Local artists painted the boots and businesses bid on them. After the auctions the boots were ranged around the city. There was an audio tour you could take to hear from the artist of each boot.

Now, several years later, some of the boots have been removed (one, a mosaic boot outside The Hitching Post Inn, a few miles west on Lincolnway, had severely degraded) and one wasn't wanted anymore so it was removed from its long-time location inside a car deaership and the Cheyenne Depot gave it a new home.

 There are six Big Boots on the grounds of the Cheyenne Depot. 

Where the Deer and the Antelope Play boot

Entrance to Cheyenne Depot Plaza

100 Years of Cheyenne

Governors of Cheyenne

On the train tracks side of the Depot

How to get to the Historic Cheyenne Depot

 If you're coming up to Cheyenne via Greely Highway/Highway 85, simply keep going north on Greeley Highway throughout the outskirts of Cheyenne. The road will soon split into two - Warren Avenue one way going north, which you will be on, and Central Avenue going south, which will be to your left. The two bridges/viaducts are separated in the middle by the Union Pacific tower. 

Once you've gone over the bridge, you'll come to Lincolnway (also Highway 30 or 16th Avenue.) Simply turn left, and the Cheyenne Depot will be on the left hand side. Turn left at Capitol, and you may be able to park along the right hand side of the road. (The left hand side is reserved for the Cheyenne Trolley which gives historical tours of the city - tickets can be purchased inside the Depot).

If there's no parking here, turn right on 15th Avenue, and look for parking on the right hand side. It may take you a few blocks to find something, or there'll be a lot at 15th and Thomes which is a couple of blocks away (as mentioned earlier.)

If you're returning to Colorado or points south via Greely Highway/Highway 85,  take the exit for Yelllowstone into the city. Yellowstone will turn into Warren. When you get to Warren and Lincolnway (just before the viaduct that leads out of 'historic old town) turn right. The Depot will be on your left.

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If you're coming to Cheyenne from I-25/87 going north or south, take the Lincolnway Exit. You'll head east on Lincolnway. From this vantage point you'll pass several hotels and motels, incluidng the historic Hitching Post Inn. Part of it was destroyed by fire (arson) in 2010, but it is still open. There's also still a sign there for the Cheyenne Cattle Company Restaurant, but that restaurant no longer exists.

After a couple of miles you'll come to the Cheyenne Depot on your right. Turn right on Capital. Then follow the directions to find parking given above.