Last updated on December 20, 2023.

Unless you’re a huge retail buff, there’s no reason to stop in Kemmerer, Wyoming. After finishing up at Fossil Butte National Monument, I drove through this tiny town to check out a small but interesting piece of American history.

 

JC Penney

The humble beginnings of one of the giants of retail, JC Penney, were in Kemmerer. On April 14, 1902, the very first JC Penney store opened on the town square. It’s still open for business and an important landmark in the town.

JC Penney mother store in Kemmerer, Wyoming
JC Penney mother store

Not too far away is the JC Penney House. It was built in 1904 and is now a museum dedicated to James Cash Penney (1875-1971). It’s open daily until 4pm. Unfortunately, both the store and museum were closed when I drove by at around 5:30pm.

 

Town Square

The town square is an open grass field. There’s a visitor information center and memorial to pioneers who passed through the area “to win and hold the West”. Around the square are old buildings with some shops and a bank.

Square in Kemmerer, Wyoming
Square
Monument dedicated to pioneers in Kemmerer, Wyoming
Monument dedicated to pioneers

 

History

Kemmerer was founded in 1897 by Patrick Quealy, who was vice president of the Kemmerer Coal Company. The company and town were both named after Pennsylvania coal magnate Mahlon S. Kemmerer, Quealy’s financial backer.

A mural on the square in Kemmerer, Wyoming
A mural on the square
Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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