Museums in Cheyenne range from railroad history at the Cheyenne Depot Museum to Western heritage at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum. The city museum directory also names other stops, including the Nelson Museum of the West.
- Railroad history: Cheyenne Depot Museum, at 121 West 15th Street in downtown.
- Western heritage: Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum, at 4610 Carey Avenue.
- Other city options: Nelson Museum of the West, Wyoming State Museum, and Cheyenne Botanic Gardens.
- Getting around: The museum trolley map includes the Depot, Nelson Museum, Wyoming State Museum, Botanic Gardens, and Old West Museum among its stops.
Which Cheyenne Museum Fits Your Visit?
Cheyenne’s museums cover different subjects, so choose based on the history you want to focus on. The Depot Museum interprets the city and transcontinental railroad history; the Old West Museum centers its work on the heritage of the American West as experienced through Cheyenne Frontier Days.
The city museum directory identifies the Nelson Museum of the West, Wyoming State Museum, and Cheyenne Botanic Gardens as other options. The museum trolley map includes those places alongside the Depot and Old West Museum, as well as the State Capitol and Historic Governors’ Mansion.
If you want to plan around the railroad stop, the Cheyenne Depot Museum visit guide covers that museum in more detail. For a comparison of the two featured museums, their subjects offer the clearest distinction: railroad and local history at the Depot, versus Western heritage at the Old West Museum.
Railroad History at the Depot Museum
The Cheyenne Depot Museum interprets Cheyenne and transcontinental railroad history inside the historic Union Pacific Cheyenne Depot. The National Historic Landmark was built in 1886 by the Union Pacific Railroad and designed by Henry Van Brunt.
The museum also displays the UC&N narrow-gauge model railroad, built by Harry W. Brunk. You’ll find the Depot at 121 West 15th Street in downtown Cheyenne, one block south of Lincolnway at the south end of Capitol Avenue.
Its regular hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for visitors age 60 and older, military personnel, and AAA members, and $5 for ages 13–18; children 12 and under enter free.
Downtown on-street spaces and parking structures offer free parking for up to two hours Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking is free from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Monday through Saturday and all day Sunday. Time limits are enforced Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Check the official site before you go for current museum hours and admission details.
Western Heritage at the Old West Museum
The Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum preserves and shares the heritage of the American West as experienced through Cheyenne Frontier Days. It is at 4610 Carey Avenue, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001.
The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. during Cheyenne Frontier Days. General admission is $15; youth ages 12–17 pay $10, and children 11 and under enter free. Reduced admission is $12 for seniors, first responders, military, AAA members, and college students with valid student ID.
Family admission is $35 for two adults and up to three youth. Museum and NARM members enter free. The Old West Museum visitor guide offers a focused look at this stop if you’re weighing it against the Depot.
How Do You Plan a Museum Day in Cheyenne?
A museum day can pair downtown railroad history with a visit to the Old West Museum, then extend to other stops identified on the city’s museum trolley map. The map includes Depot Square, Nelson Museum, Wyoming State Museum, State Capitol, Botanic Gardens, Old West Museum, and Historic Governors’ Mansion.
The trolley map describes a narrated tour lasting 90 minutes and directs visitors to call 307-778-3133 for tickets. Its schedule varies on holidays and during Cheyenne Frontier Days, so check the official site before you go. Downtown parking rules may also help if you’re visiting the Depot by car.
From Cheyenne Guest Inn, the Old West Museum is about an 8-minute drive. The two-star Cheyenne hotel is one possible starting point for arranging that visit alongside downtown stops.
FAQs
What museums are named in Cheyenne’s city museum directory?
The directory names the CFD Old West Museum, Cheyenne Depot Museum, Nelson Museum of the West, Wyoming State Museum, and Cheyenne Botanic Gardens.
What is the main difference between the Depot Museum and the Old West Museum?
The Depot interprets Cheyenne and transcontinental railroad history. The Old West Museum focuses on the heritage of the American West as experienced through Cheyenne Frontier Days.
Does the Cheyenne museum trolley include both featured museums?
Yes. Its map includes Depot Square and the Old West Museum among the stops, along with several other museums and city attractions.
What else can you combine with a visit to the Depot?
The Cheyenne city centre one-day itinerary places the Depot among other downtown sights.