In the southeastern corner of Wyoming, Cheyenne is the state’s capital and sits along the high plains, making it an easy base for exploring the region’s history, landscapes, and cultural attractions. Widely known for its Western heritage, the city is also home to a lively arts and culture scene. Vibrant street murals, art galleries, and live performances in historic venues reveal how Cheyenne has evolved beyond its railroad roots into a place where creativity thrives, blending Old West tradition with contemporary culture.
Visit the Wyoming State Museum
A bison diorama at the Wyoming State Museum
Courtesy of Visit Wyoming
To understand how Cheyenne grew into a regional hub, start at the Wyoming State Museum, where exhibits focus on the people, wildlife, and events that have shaped the state. Displays of dinosaur fossils, mineral specimens, and wildlife dioramas featuring bison, pronghorn, and eagles highlight the ecosystems that define Wyoming’s landscapes.
The museum also explores cultural heritage, with artifacts, tools, and clothing representing tribes historically connected to the area, including the Shoshone, Arapaho, and Cheyenne peoples, alongside stories of their traditions and history. Art and everyday life appear throughout the galleries as well, with paintings, sculptures, and photography by regional artists, plus objects like ranching gear and toys reflecting daily life across Wyoming.
Check out the Cheyenne Depot Museum
The exterior of the Cheyenne Depot Museum
Courtesy of Visit Cheyenne
For a closer look at Cheyenne’s rapid rise as a frontier boomtown, the Cheyenne Depot Museum, a National Historic Landmark, traces the city’s roots as a railroad hub and gateway to the American West. The museum is housed in the historic Union Pacific Railroad Depot, a striking Richardsonian Romanesque building constructed in 1886 that once served as the region’s center for passenger and freight rail travel.
Inside, exhibits showcase the impact of the Union Pacific Railroad on Cheyenne and the broader West. Artifacts, historic photographs, and interactive displays reveal how the railroad transformed the area, helping the city earn its nickname, the “Magic City of the Plains.”
Tour the State Capitol
The Wyoming State Capitol among blooming cherry blossoms
Courtesy of Visit Cheyenne
Beyond its role as Wyoming’s seat of government, the Wyoming State Capitol also functions as a living museum of history and art. Inside, murals and statues depict pivotal moments in the state’s past.
The collection highlights early settlers; Native American heritage, including a bronze statue of Chief Washakie, the respected leader of the Shoshone people who helped his tribe navigate U.S. government relations; and the growth of ranching and mining. On a self-guided tour, this iconic Cheyenne landmark blends history and visual storytelling.
See public art on a self-guided tour
Plan a self-guided public art tour using the Arts Cheyenne interactive map, which features more than 240 works across the city. It spans murals, bronze sculptures, and the oversized cowboy boots scattered throughout town, showcasing local stories alongside contemporary interpretations of Western and everyday life.
Street art appears along downtown streets and alleyways, including the women’s suffrage mural, which commemorates Wyoming as the first U.S. state to grant women the right to vote. Another standout is the Cheyenne mural by Jordan Dean at Lincolnway and Pioneer Avenue.
Along Capitol Avenue, the city’s main thoroughfare, the Capitol Avenue Bronze Project features bronze statues at many intersections, depicting historic Wyoming figures and regional wildlife. The map also highlights the playful Big Boots of Cheyenne installation, made up of more than 35 custom-painted, eight-foot-tall cowboy boots throughout town, each decorated with its own theme.
Attend a live performance at the Lincoln
A live performance inside the Lincoln
Courtesy of Visit Cheyenne
Catch a performance at the Lincoln, a longtime cultural fixture in downtown Cheyenne. Built in 1928 in an art deco style as a live performance venue, the theater later became a full-time movie house before returning to its performing arts roots.
The restored venue presents a variety of programming, including live music, theater productions, film screenings, and comedy shows. Its schedule combines touring performers with local talent, making the Lincoln Theatre a central gathering place for Cheyenne’s arts community and an inviting way for visitors to tap into the city’s creative energy.
Browse local galleries and creative studios
Visitors admiring art at the Cheyenne Creativity Center
Courtesy of Visit Cheyenne
Cheyenne’s creative side comes into focus through its artist-run spaces and community events. Start with the Cheyenne Creativity Center, a downtown arts hub run by the nonprofit Arts Cheyenne. Free and open to the public, including creatives at every stage, the Center hosts rotating monthly exhibitions.
You can also browse locally made crafts, jewelry, and prints in the gift shop, or join a workshop if the timing lines up. Classes cover everything from printmaking and watercolor painting to photography and tarot reading.
Next, browse Open Door Studio & Gallery, a working studio and gallery run by local artists, which features original works including textiles, jewelry, and photography. Watch artists at work and chat about their process and inspiration.
Then stop by Westward, a contemporary gallery and boutique founded by local painter and graphic designer Bria Hammock. The space blends Western heritage with modern expression through original artwork, prints, jewelry, and handcrafted goods inspired by the landscapes and culture of the American West. It also hosts intimate events like live music performances, pop-ups, and book signings.
Join the community for a Second Friday Art Walk. On the second Friday of every month from 5–8 p.m., galleries, studios, restaurants, and breweries open their doors to showcase regional artists and musicians. Wander between venues to see new exhibitions, meet artists, and watch live demonstrations.
Stay at the historic Nagle-Warren Mansion
The exterior of the Nagle Warren Mansion
Courtesy of Visit Cheyenne
Dating to 1887, the Romanesque Nagle Warren Mansion is one of Cheyenne’s most distinctive historic hotels. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1984, the bed-and-breakfast has welcomed visitors, including Buffalo Bill Cody and 27th President William Howard Taft, so you might have the chance to sleep where they once stayed.
The adults-only property has 12 guest rooms, split between the mansion and carriage house, and each is adorned with period-authentic furniture and historic artwork that reflect the Victorian era. Culinary offerings enhance the experience, from afternoon tea and rare liquors to elaborate breakfasts that may include smoked apple-marinated organic chicken sausage, fruit-and-spice muffins, and corned buffalo hash.
