Cheyenne in Laramie County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)

1974 Downtown National Historic District

Photographed by Adam Margolis, August 25, 2014

1. 1974 Downtown National Historic District Marker

Inscription. Although Cheyenne was originally established in the 1857, much of the early town had been destroyed by fires over the years and it was not until the late 1800s that masonry structures were introduced. The current Downtown District of Cheyenne was built between 1872-1920s and represents Cheyenne's first half century of growth. Cheyenne belongs to a breed of American towns established at the same time as the westward movement of the Transcontinental Railroad. Most of these towns were "tent towns," and often were called "Hell on Wheels." Cheyenne grew from a tiny frontier "tent town" through Seat of Territorial Government, and eventually became the Capitol City as Wyoming became a State.

The Downtown District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 with an amendment made in 1984. This district was the core business district of the City. It consists of 68 buildings located on all or portions of approximately 11 city blocks and lies between 15th and 18th Streets south and north and Central and Pioneer Avenues east to west. One whole block was torn down in the early 1970s to construct the Municipal Parking

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Lot.

The architectual style of this district is best described as eclectic with heavy emphasis on commercial Victorian. Some of the key buildings in this district include; The Dinneen Building, 400 West Lincolnway (16th Street); The Pioneer Hook and Ladder Company Building, 1712 Pioneer Avenue; The Boyd Building, 1720 Carey Avenue; The Idelman Block, 222 West Lincolnway; the Warren Block, 206 West Lincolnway; The Coors Building, 1502 Capitol Avenue; They Hynds Building, 1602 Capitol Avenue; Lincoln Theater, 1607 Capitol Avenue; The Majestic Building Lincolnway and Capitol Avenue; The Plains Hotel, Lincolnway and Central Avenue; The Tivoli Building, 301 West Lincolnway; The Atlas Theater, 213 West Lincolnway; The Phoenix Block, 1518 Capitol Avenue; the Albany Hotel, 1506 Capitol Avenue; The former Cheyenne Union Pacific Depot (now Cheyenne Transportation Museum), 121 West 15th Street; The Becker Hotel, 214 West 15th Street; and the Rex Hotel, 202 West 15th Street.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places. A significant historical year for this entry is 1857.

Location. 41° 7.958′ N, 104° 48.905′ W. Marker

Photographed by Beverly Pfingsten, June 12, 2011

2. 1974 Downtown National Historic District Marker

is in Cheyenne, Wyoming, in Laramie County. It is at the intersection of Lincolnway and Capitol Avenue, on the right when traveling east on Lincolnway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cheyenne WY 82001, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Laramie Basin. It is also in the American Mountain West,

on the Great Plains,

and specifically on the High Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Trolleys / Cheyenne's Street Railway (here, next to this marker); Major General Grenville Dodge, Founder of Cheyenne (a few steps from this marker); The Union Pacific Railroad (within shouting distance of this marker); The first steam-powered locomotive reached Cheyenne on November 14, 1867 (within shouting distance of this marker); Comparing Time (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Tom Horn (about 300 feet away); Historic Plains Hotel (about

Map of 1974 Downtown National Historic District image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Beverly Pfingsten, June 12, 2011

3. Map of 1974 Downtown National Historic District

300 feet away); A New Beginning (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cheyenne.

Part of Downtown Historic District image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Beverly Pfingsten, June 12, 2011

4. Part of Downtown Historic District

Photographed by Bill Pfingsten, June 12, 2011

5. Part of Downtown Historic District

Photographed by Beverly Pfingsten, June 12, 2011

6. Part of Downtown Historic District

Looking north on Capitol Avenue with State Capitol in view.