Wyoming State Capitol
200 W 24th St, Cheyenne, WY
Cheyenne, WY
A golden dome over the plains, capital of the state that first gave women the vote and earned its name as the Equality State.
The Wyoming State Capitol is the golden-domed heart of Cheyenne and the seat of a state with a proud and pioneering history. Begun not long after Wyoming became a territory and completed in stages through the late nineteenth century, the sandstone building with its gilded dome has been carefully restored and is a National Historic Landmark.
Wyoming calls itself the Equality State, and the capitol is the home of that legacy. It was here, while still a territory in 1869, that Wyoming became the first government in the nation to grant women the right to vote and hold office, a distinction the state has carried ever since and one that runs through the building's art and story.
What Guests Love
- The gleaming gold-leaf dome rising above the historic capitol grounds
- The restored rotunda, chambers, and stained glass inside
- The story of Wyoming as the first place to grant women full voting rights
- Strolling the surrounding downtown and the nearby state museum
Worth Knowing
- The building is a working capitol; public access and tours follow posted hours, generally on weekdays
- Security screening applies at the entrance, as at any statehouse
- Pair a visit with the Wyoming State Museum a short walk away
- The grounds and monuments are open to stroll anytime around the building
Details
Cheyenne, WY
Learn about Wyoming State Capitol
The building and its golden dome
The capitol was built of local and regional sandstone in a stately classical style, crowned by a dome covered in real gold leaf that catches the sun over the plains. Construction began in the 1880s and the building grew over the following years as wings were added to house the legislature and state offices.
A major restoration in recent years returned the building to its historic grandeur while modernizing it for continued use. Inside, a soaring rotunda rises to the dome, and the legislative chambers, stained glass, and period detail reward a walk through when the building is open to visitors.
The Equality State
In 1869 the Wyoming Territory granted women the right to vote and to hold public office, the first government in the country to do so. When Wyoming joined the Union in 1890, it did so as the first state where women could vote, refusing to give up that right as a condition of statehood.
From this early step came a series of firsts, including the first woman to serve as a state governor and among the first women to sit on juries and serve as public officials. The nickname Equality State grew from this history, and the capitol is where much of it unfolded.
Cheyenne, the frontier capital
Cheyenne sprang up as a railroad town when the Union Pacific pushed across the plains in the late 1860s, and it grew fast as a hub of ranching, rails, and territorial government. The wealth of the cattle era left a legacy of grand buildings, and the city became and remains the seat of state government.
The capitol anchors a walkable historic downtown of old hotels, depots, and civic buildings. Each summer the city hosts Cheyenne Frontier Days, one of the largest rodeos and Western celebrations in the world, a reminder of the ranching culture that built the capital.
Visiting and the grounds
The capitol is a working seat of government, open to the public during posted hours, generally on weekdays, with self-guided and sometimes guided tours of the rotunda and chambers. Security screening applies, as at any statehouse.
The grounds around the building hold monuments and statues, including tributes to Wyoming's history and its pioneering women, and are pleasant to stroll anytime. Just a short walk away, the Wyoming State Museum deepens the story of the state, making the two an easy pair for a half day in Cheyenne.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Cheyenne
Wyoming State Museum
About a block
The state's free history museum, covering geology, Native peoples, ranching, and the frontier.
Cheyenne Depot Museum
About half a mile south
A grand restored Union Pacific depot with railroad history and a lively plaza.
Cheyenne Frontier Days
In town each July
One of the world's largest outdoor rodeos and Western festivals, with its own Old West museum.