When you think of Cheyenne, Wyoming, the first thing you probably think about is the Wild West: gun-slinging cowboys, saloons and rodeos. What you might not know is that on top of the incredible cowboy culture, downtown Cheyenne also has a blossoming art and music scene worth exploring on your next trip!
This story was created in partnership with Visit Cheyenne.
Take a dive into cowboy culture and the history of Cheyenne
You really can’t spend time in Cheyenne without learning at least a little bit about the colorful history and what makes this town the capital of the Cowboy State. Take a Wild West History Tour on the Cheyenne Street Railway Trolley to get a more in-depth view of all the city landmarks and their wild backstories! If you are a history buff and need more than the 90 minute tour, check out the Wyoming State Museum, Wyoming State Capitol, Cheyenne Depot Museum, or the Cowgirls of the West Museum.
Fun fact: Wyoming was the first territory to guarantee women the right to vote and hold public office in 1869—50 years before the Nineteenth Amendment was ratified!
Need a more hands-on approach to the Wild West? Make sure to stop by the Terry Bison Ranch where you can take a Bison Train Tour or a guided horseback ride!
Catch a live show and get your boogie on
Cheyenne has a thriving music scene, no matter what time of year! Check out The Lincoln—a historic theater turned music venue that has been a place of entertainment in downtown Cheyenne for almost 90 years. In addition to The Lincoln, you can find live music most nights of the week, whether that be at the Outlaw Saloon, the Cheyenne Civic Center, one of the many local breweries or restaurants, at the Chinook, or even at the Terry Bison Ranch for an outdoor concert!
Spend an afternoon spotting murals
An awesome fact many people don’t know about Cheyenne: this town has a crazy street art scene! Every year Cheyenne hosts the street art festival Paint Slingers where local and a handful of visiting artists use city buildings as their canvas. Peppered all over downtown Cheyenne, you can easily spend an afternoon trying to find them all. Along with the murals, there are over 30 Big Boots (8-foot-tall, hand-painted cowboy boots) that are worth seeking out as well! To make sure you don’t miss any, download the Visit Cheyenne app to take a virtual tour of all the best pieces.
Take some time to smell the flowers
For a breath of fresh air and a chance to absorb some calming vibes (which can be especially nice after a fun night out listening to live music), check out the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, nestled right in Lions Park in Cheyenne. The gardens are free and offer incredible pathways winding through gardens both inside and out! Take some time to spot native plants in the outdoor gardens (so many gorgeous prairie blooms!) and the chance to soak up a little humidity in the tropical Grand Conservatory inside.
Foodies and beer lovers, rejoice!
There is a ton of amazing food and beer in Cheyenne, all just waiting to be tasted! For beer and craft cocktail lovers, I recommend embarking on the Daddy of the Malt Craft Beverage Trail, a tour of four breweries and two distilleries in Laramie County. For foodies, there is everything from authentic (and incredible) Mexican food to gourmet American cuisine and… the best donuts I have ever tasted. Voted Best Doughnuts in Wyoming by Food and Wine, The Donut Shop on Central is definitely worth visiting. Good luck not hitting this spot more than once on your trip to Cheyenne (and one for the road when you head home)!
