11 Famous Landmarks in Wyoming to Visit

What is Wyoming known for? Is a trip to Wyoming worth it? Well, this article explores the most famous landmarks in Wyoming. This way, the next time you visit, your days will be full of incredible things to do.

The history of Wyoming is a long and storied one. For starters, Wyoming was first inhabited by Native American tribes, who were followed by European settlers in the 1800s. Wyoming was admitted to the Union in 1890 and has since been home to a number of important historical events.

Today, Wyoming is known for its natural beauty and its many historical landmarks, which attract visitors from all over the world. From impressive natural wonders to iconic buildings and structures, Wyoming has something for everyone.

And in this piece, we take a look at its most famous landmarks and what makes them so special. Here are some of the most famous landmarks in Wyoming to visit.

Most Famous Landmarks in Wyoming to Visit

1. Devils Tower National Monument

Address: 60 WY-110, Devils Tower, WY 82714

The Devil’s Tower, also known as Bear Lodge Butte, is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Wyoming, attracting upwards of 500,000 visitors annually. The monument is 867 feet from base to summit and is 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River.

Located in the Black Hills, this impressive tower is known for its tremendous size and its unique shape, which makes it one of the most famous landmarks in the state. The tower was established as the United States’ first national monument in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt.

Devil’s Tower National Monument has been used in several movies, including Close Encounters of the Third Kind and, recently, Transformers: Age of Extinction. In Transformers, the tower has been digitally added behind Optimus Prime and Bumblebee fighting Megatron! Ker-smash!

The best thing here is that you can enjoy a self-guided audio-driving tour of the Black Hills to this world’s wonder. This gives you the freedom to drive and sightsee at your own pace and liking – sightseeing in Wyoming at its best.

2. Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is a famous US national park located in parts of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. The park was the first national park in the United States, and its protection act was signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872

The park covers an area of about 3,500 square miles, making it roughly 150-times the size of Manhattan. Yellowstone is home to many natural wonders, including Old Faithful Geyser. This geyser erupts every 60 minutes or so with a spray of hot boiling water that can reach heights up to 100 feet.

Yellowstone National Park has over 300 rivers and streams within its boundaries. These rivers are home to hundreds of species of fish, like trout and salmon, as well as beaver dams that create ponds for swimming. If you’re lucky enough, you might even see some bison grazing along their banks.

For the best sightseeing of Yellowstone National Park, its geysers, rivers, and other attractions, booking a guided tour is the best option. With a professional tour guide, you can get the most out of the park’s unique features.

See Related: Best Things to do in Yellowstone National Park

3. Fossil Butte National Monument

Fossil Butte National Monument is located in Wyoming and is known for its fossils. The fossils can be found throughout the park on trails or roadsides where they have been exposed to erosion over time. The fossils in this area are among the most abundant in the world.

The park is also home to wildlife like deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn antelope. So, if you want to witness firsthand some of the best-preserved fossils in history, visiting Fossil Butte National Monument is a pretty good idea.

4. Independence Rock State Historic Site

Independence Rock was designated a National Historic Landmark on January 20, 1961, and is now part of the Independence Rock State Historic Site. Currently, its owned and operated by the state of Wyoming.

If you are visiting the Independence Rock State Historic Site, there is a footpath going around the rock’s base, which allows you to have a glimpse of the entire rock. There are also interpretive exhibits, emigrant inscriptions, and trail ruts, which tell the story of this trail. Hiking is also allowed on this massive rock, an excellent chance for those seeking some hiking activities in Wyoming.

5. Ames Monument State Historic Site

There is never a shortage of stunning things to see in Wyoming, and Ames Monument features among the top sites to check out when visiting. The monument was designed by Henry Hobson Richardson and was completed in 1882, marking the highest point of the First Transcontinental Railroad.

The town of Sherman was built up around it, but then Union Pacific moved its tracks southward, and Sherman became a ghost town. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

See Related: Best & Fun Things to Do in Casper, Wyoming

6. Wyoming State Capitol

The Wyoming State Capitol building is home to the state government of Wyoming. Built between 1886 and 1890, the capitol is located in Cheyenne and contains the chambers of the Wyoming State Legislature as well as the office of the Governor of Wyoming. The building was designated a US National Historic Landmark in 1987.

It was constructed from sandstone quarried near Rawlins, Wyoming, and Fort Collins, Colorado, giving it an outstanding exterior look. The interior is decorated with marble and murals depicting scenes from early Wyoming history. In other words, it is an architectural beauty that you’ll love touring.

Good accommodation is also in abundance, and you can book yourself one of the nice hotels in the area, like Downtown Cheyenne.

7. Hole-in-the-Wall Pass

Hole-in-the-Wall is a mountain pass in Wyoming. The pass was named for a narrow gap in a rock wall. Back in the day, the outlaws’ Hole-in-the-Wall Gang and Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch and others would meet at this location and nearby log cabin to hide out from the law.

Now, this log cabin is preserved at the Old Trail Town museum in Cody, Wyoming. This is one of the most significant Wyoming landmarks in the history of the Old Wild West. And as such, history enthusiasts will find the place quite charming.

See Related: Best Things to Do in West Yellowstone, Montana

8. Wind River Canyon

Wind River Canyon is also among the most popular landmarks in Wyoming. Visitors come from all over to drive along the Wind River Canyon Scenic Byway to see this natural wonder, which is home to many different kinds of wildlife, as well as an abundance of natural resources.

The canyon contains rock formations as old as 3 billion years, making it one of the oldest canyons in North America. The Byway begins in the town of Shoshoni at milepost 100. The route ends just north of the city of Thermopolis at milepost 134. The total drive time is about 40 minutes.

See Related: Best Things to Do Near Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone

9. Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the United States. It’s famous for its mountains, including the Grand Teton. The park is located in northwestern Wyoming and was established in 1929.

Grand Teton National Park has over 1,000 miles of hiking trails to explore. These include 500 miles of backcountry trails that start at Jenny Lake Visitor Center or Colter Bay Campground, weaving through alpine meadows, forested areas, and along lakeshores.

The backcountry trails meet up with other trailheads on lower elevations, where you can catch a shuttle bus back to civilization. Some of the other main trailheads here include the Signal Mountain Lookout (8 miles), Moose Entrance Station (21 miles), Gros Ventre Junction Trailhead (17 miles), Colter Bay Campground (28 miles), and Jenny Lake Visitor Center (19 miles).

For excellent accommodation near Grand Tenon Park, try Bentwood Inn. It has all the amenities to ensure you have the best time while visiting the park.

10. Buffalo Bill Center of the West

The Buffalo Bill Center of the West is a museum complex in Cody, Wyoming. It comprises five museums that feature incredible American west art and artifacts. These include the Whitney Western Art Museum, Buffalo Bill Museum, Draper Natural History Museum, Cody Firearms Museum, and the Plains Indians Museum.

The center was founded by William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody to preserve the American West history. And if you are a history buff, you’ll certainly appreciate the abundance of art, artifacts, and history that these museums hold.

The center’s history can be traced back to 1917 and has since become one of Wyoming’s main tourist attractions. Currently, all five museums are housed in a seven-acre building, hosting over 50,000 art pieces that detail the region’s history.

Each museum is unique and presents different pieces of artifacts. As such, touring this place gives you a comprehensive view of how the American West came to be.

In addition to the museums, the complex also houses a research library. Now, this is another absolute marvel. It contains over 30,000 books, 400 manuscript collections, and an amazing half-million or more photographs. It would take you an eternity to browse through all of them.

11. Oregon Trail Ruts State Historic Site

The Oregon Trail Ruts State Historic Site allows visitors to check out some of the best-preserved evidence of settlers’ migration out West.

These Oregon Trail Ruts can be combined with Fort Laramie and Independence Rock for an excellent historical tour of this part of Wyoming. It gives you a chance to follow in the footsteps of these pioneers. If your wish is to visit one of the most historic landmarks in Wyoming, this is one of them.

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