Laramie is 7,165 feet (about 2,200 meters) above sea level in southeastern Wyoming, with the Laramie Mountains to the east, and the Medicine Bow Mountain Range to the west.
Why People Came to Laramie in the 1940s
The Union Pacific Railroad
Laramie ensured its continued growth when the Union Pacific first crossed Wyoming in 1868, and established stations in Cheyenne, Laramie, Rawlins, and Green River as points where crews changed, locomotives were serviced, and freight was processed.
By the 1940s, the Union Pacific's Laramie Shops employed hundreds of men. The locomotive repair facilities were among the largest between Omaha, Nebraska and Ogden, Utah. Rail workers and their families formed a significant part of Laramie's population, a working-class, union-organized community that gave the town a different character from the ranching settlements nearby.
Ranching and Agriculture
The Laramie Valley while at a high elevation is surprisingly fertile along the river and has supported cattle ranching and sheep herding. The Albany County land surrounding the city was home to some of Wyoming's oldest ranching families. The Laramie Stockyards were active through the 1940s, and auction days brought ranchers and buyers from across southeastern Wyoming to town.
The University of Wyoming
Founded in Laramie in 1886, the University of Wyoming is Wyoming's only four-year public university in the middle of the open range. In the 1940s, the university was the primary source of professional education for a state with no other higher institutions. Wyoming's teachers, engineers, lawyers, and doctors began their careers at the University of Wyoming. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) era (part of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal to combat unemployment)had constructed several of the campus's sandstone buildings, and the 1940s saw enrollment surge again after the war as GIs returned to start/finish degrees under the G.I. Bill.
Wartime Activity
World War II brought federal activity to Wyoming. The Union Pacific Railroad was critical to the movement of troops and war material to Pacific ports. The railroad's hiring had expanded to meet wartime demand, and Laramie saw an influx of workers. Fort Francis E. Warren in nearby Cheyenne (45 miles east) housed tens of thousands of soldiers, some of whom passed through Laramie.
Why You Should Go to Laramie?
It's Authentic
Laramie is not a typical tourist destination. Like, the downtown along Second Street retains its historic brick storefronts for bars, coffee shops, and restaurants that serve the university community and long-time residents. It's also considered more liberal than most other towns or cities in Wyoming (due to the presence of the university).
The Wyoming Territorial Prison
Laramie was home to Wyoming's first federal prison, now preserved as the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site. And, Butch Cassidy served time here in 1894. The restored facility lends insight into frontier justice, incarceration conditions, and the characters who passed through the prison.
Hiking and Outdoor Recreation
The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest stretches west of town. The Snowy Range Scenic Byway (Highway 130) climbs from Laramie west through alpine terrain that rivals anything in Colorado. There is hiking, fishing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing are all accessible within 30–45 minutes of downtown. Also, the Medicine Bow Peak hike is a favorite hiking expedition reaching over 12,000 feet.
The University of Wyoming Art Museum
This is a great regional art museum with permanent and rotating collections covering Western American art, European masters, and contemporary work. The Admission is free. The building architecture, designed by Antoine Predock, is itself worth the visit.
The Weather and the Sky
Laramie has a reputation for wind and cold but, the Milky Way galaxy, on a clear night away from town, is kind of a big deal.
Affordability
Compared to Jackson Hole (Wyoming's other major tourist destination, 180 miles northwest), Laramie is very affordable. For travelers who want an authentic Wyoming experience, open range, mountains, frontier history, and simplicity, Laramie delivers everything Jackson Hole does at a quarter of the price.
Getting There
Laramie is 130 miles Denver via I-25 and I-80 which is a 2-hour drive through increasingly dramatic terrain. Cheyenne, Wyoming's capital, is just 45 minutes east on I-80 and worth combining on any trip. The Laramie Regional Airport has limited commercial service and most visitors fly into Denver International Airport and drive.