Last updated on December 20, 2023.

The historic Cheyenne Depot, in the heart of downtown Cheyenne, was built in 1886 for Union Pacific passenger trains. It stands directly down the street about a mile from the Wyoming State Capitol building. The building was donated to the city of Cheyenne by Union Pacific in 1993.

Cheyenne Depot in Wyoming
Cheyenne Depot

 

Lobby

The lobby of the building has a map on the floor showing the Union Pacific portion of the Transcontinental Railroad. There’s also a small visitor center with brochures on what to do in Cheyenne and the rest of Wyoming.

Lobby at the Cheyenne Depot in Wyoming
Lobby
Lobby at the Cheyenne Depot in Wyoming
Lobby

 

Cheyenne Depot Museum

The big draw to the depot is the Cheyenne Depot Museum. It covers railroad history from the beginning of the Transcontinental Railroad and its ties to Cheyenne. Admission is US$10 for adults while children 12 and under are free (as of April 2023). It’s open daily.

Cheyenne Depot Museum in Wyoming
Cheyenne Depot Museum
Cheyenne Depot Museum in Wyoming
Cheyenne Depot Museum

Many interesting stories and artifacts are on display, including tools used by railroad workers, uniforms, and dinnerware used in Union Pacific dining cars. A particularly interesting display is about how snow was moved off the tracks.

Union Pacific passenger dinnerware at the Cheyenne Depot Museum in Wyoming
Union Pacific passenger dinnerware
Uniforms at the Cheyenne Depot Museum in Wyoming
Uniforms

Upstairs, there’s a viewing platform where you can see the railroad tracks and Union Pacific Main Yard.

Union Pacific tracks at the Cheyenne Depot Museum in Wyoming
Union Pacific tracks

 

Model Railroad

There’s also an excellent model railroad on display. It was the work of Harry S. Brunk of Clarkson, Nebraska, and has been at the museum since 2012. He spent 30 years making all of the scenery and buildings by hand. The railroad is a model of Colorado and Southern Railway’s Clear Creek narrow gauge line. Immediately recognizable to me were the towns of Idaho Springs and Georgetown, Colorado.

Model railroad at the Cheyenne Depot Museum in Wyoming
Model railroad
Model railroad at the Cheyenne Depot Museum in Wyoming
Model railroad
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Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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