Cheyenne Depot Museum, Wyoming

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Cheyenne, Wyoming · Updated October 19, 2026 · 13 min read

Depot museumOpen daily, with shorter weekend hours

The Cheyenne Depot Museum cares for the 1880s Union Pacific depot in downtown Cheyenne, a National Historic Landmark that the museum calls the last remaining grand railroad station on the transcontinental route, and fills it with the story of the railroad and the city it created.

  • National Historic Landmark depot
  • Museum founded in 1993
  • UC&N narrow gauge model railroad
  • Kids 12 and under free
  • Open seven days a week
  • Live railfan camera online

Cheyenne Depot Museum at a glance

Hours
Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm, Saturday 9 am to 3 pm, Sunday 11 am to 3 pm
Admission
Adults $10; 60+, military and AAA $9; ages 13 to 18 $5; 12 and under free; members free
Seasonal events
Depot Days, Fridays on the Plaza, Steam Shop Tours, Brewers Festival, CFD Vendor Show
Plan for
About 1 to 2 hours
Best for
Families, rail fans and history lovers
Best ages
Ages 4 and up
Parking
Not detailed online; the depot is one block south of Lincolnway at the south end of Capitol Avenue

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Cheyenne Depot Museum? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Cheyenne.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

A sandstone station built to face the Capitol

Cheyenne owes its existence to a surveyor's choice. On July 4, 1867, Union Pacific chief surveyor Grenville M. Dodge picked a spot on the banks of Crow Creek, a dependable source of water on the high plains, close to a pass over the mountains that was direct without being too steep. The first passenger train reached town that same year, and Cheyenne's place on the railroad was settled.

The depot that stands today was the railroad's second in Cheyenne. In 1885 Union Pacific hired the Boston firm of Van Brunt & Howe, and the architects worked in the Romanesque style made famous by H.H. Richardson. Construction began in March 1886, with sandstone hauled by train from the Union Pacific quarry, and townspeople followed the progress stone by stone. The museum says the building was finished, minus its clock, in November 1887; the clock tower's four faces were not installed until 1890. The depot was set directly down the street from the Wyoming State Capitol, a sign of how much the railroad mattered to the city and the state.

The building grew with the railroad. A 1922 addition of 114 feet on the east side nearly mirrored the original, built from stone taken from the same reopened quarry, and in 1929 the interior was redone in an Art Deco style. Passenger trains used the station until 1979, when Amtrak moved its stop out of the city.

The Cheyenne Depot Museum was founded in 1993 through an agreement between the Old West Museum and Cheyenne Frontier Days, and it leased the depot from the city. Between 2001 and 2006 the city put $6.5 million into improvements and built the plaza out front. Today the museum is a private nonprofit that receives no city, state or federal operating money, so members, event guests, visitors and donors keep the landmark going.

Inside the depot: from Crow Creek to the Big Boys

The exhibits walk through Cheyenne's railroad story in order: the founding of the town at Crow Creek, the building of the second depot, and the Cheyenne shops and yards, where a machine shop started up on April 16, 1890 with 200 people watching the mayor start the engine. A section on passenger travel covers the era of fine dining cars, and another explains why Cheyenne became the base shop for the 4-8-4s, the Challengers and the Big Boys: the steep grades of Sherman Hill demanded the most powerful locomotives available.

Many visitors make a beeline for the UC&N Model Railroad, a narrow gauge layout built by Harry W. Brunk that the museum describes as beloved. Visitor listings also mention interactive displays, and a train viewing area and railroad art collection were added around the depot's 125th anniversary. Outside, the Depot Plaza hosts concerts and community events through the year.

Don’t miss

  1. UC&N Model RailroadHarry W. Brunk's narrow gauge layout is the museum's best-known exhibit and a favorite stop for families.
  2. The clock towerSix stories tall with four clock faces more than six feet across, it faces the State Capitol at the south end of Capitol Avenue.
  3. Home of the Largest Locomotives exhibitIt explains how Sherman Hill made Cheyenne the base shop for the 4-8-4s, Challengers and Big Boys.
  4. Cheyenne Shops and Yards storyLearn how Cheyenne won the Union Pacific's major shops from Laramie and celebrated the machine shop's first day in 1890.
  5. The Depot PlazaBuilt during the 2001 to 2006 renovations, the plaza is where Cheyenne gathers for music and events.
  6. Virtual Railfan CameraA live camera lets fans watch trains roll past the depot from home before or after a visit.

A model railroad, real trains outside, and free entry for kids

Children 12 and under get in free, which makes the depot an easy stop for families. The UC&N model railroad is the usual highlight for young train fans, and the depot still sits beside an active main line, so passing trains are part of the experience. Visitor listings point to interactive displays as well.

Teens pay a reduced rate, and the plaza outside gives restless kids room to move between galleries. On Depot Days and other plaza events there is even more going on, so check the museum's calendar if you want a livelier visit.

Plan your visit: tips for Cheyenne Depot Museum

  • Kids 12 and under are free, and members get in free year-round.
  • Watch the museum's events page for Steam Shop Tours, the rare chance to see Union Pacific's heritage steam power up close.
  • The Union Pacific holiday excursion advertised on the museum's site is not run by the museum.
  • Sunday hours are short, 11 am to 3 pm, so plan weekend visits early.
  • Check the live railfan camera before you go to see what is moving on the main line.

The depot is busy all year: Fridays on the Plaza brings music downtown, Depot Days fills the plaza, and the museum promotes occasional Steam Shop Tours across the tracks. The museum's site also links to a Union Pacific holiday excursion, though it notes that trip is not associated with the museum. For more seasonal rides, see our guide to Christmas train rides in Wyoming.

A nonprofit keeping a landmark open

The Cheyenne Depot Museum is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit with no city, state or federal operating funding. It relies on members, event guests, museum visitors, sponsors and donors, and it welcomes event volunteers, vendors and museum volunteers. Buying a membership (which includes free admission), shopping the gift shop or giving through the museum's donation and planned giving options all help keep the depot standing.

More railroad stops in Cheyenne and beyond

Cheyenne is a full railroad day. The Big Boy No. 4004 exhibit is right in town, the Union Pacific Steam Shop sits about a mile away across the tracks, and the Historic Laramie Railroad Depot is about 42 miles west over Sherman Hill. See all the train museums in Wyoming to plan a longer trip.

Every train museum in Wyoming

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi looking out an arched train window at the ocean and a white bird
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

The Cheyenne depot has big rounded arches built of red and sand colored stone, and I love imagining families watching the trains go by through them. In our book Rally presses his nose to an arched train window, looks out at the ocean and says hello to a white bird. Different view, same wonder. My kids are learning to read, and that window page is an easy one to sound out together. Print a coloring page for the ride home.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Cheyenne Depot Museum?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Cheyenne Depot Museum: 20 questions before you visit

What are the Cheyenne Depot Museum hours?

As of October 2026, the Cheyenne Depot Museum is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, Saturday from 9 am to 3 pm, and Sunday from 11 am to 3 pm. Weekend hours are shorter, so aim for a morning visit on Saturdays. Check cheyennedepotmuseum.org or call (307) 632-3905 before holidays.

How much are Cheyenne Depot Museum tickets?

As of October 2026, admission is $10 for adults, $9 for visitors 60 and over, military and AAA members, $5 for ages 13 to 18, and free for kids 12 and under. You buy admission at the museum. Members get in free, so a membership can pay off quickly for local families who visit often.

Is the Cheyenne Depot Museum free?

It is free for children 12 and under and for museum members, but other visitors pay admission: $10 for adults, $9 for seniors 60 and over, military and AAA, and $5 for teens 13 to 18, as of October 2026. The Depot Plaza outside is a public space that hosts free community events at times.

Where is the Cheyenne Depot Museum?

The museum is inside the historic Union Pacific depot at 121 West 15th Street in downtown Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001. It sits one block south of Lincolnway (the Lincoln Highway) at the south end of Capitol Avenue, so the depot and the State Capitol face each other down the same street.

Where do you park for the Cheyenne Depot Museum?

The museum does not post parking details online. It is downtown, one block south of Lincolnway at the south end of Capitol Avenue, so look for street or public parking nearby. On big plaza event days parking fills faster, so arrive early or call (307) 632-3905 for advice before you go.

Can you see the Big Boy at the Cheyenne Depot Museum?

The museum tells the Big Boy story in its exhibit on Cheyenne as the home of the largest locomotives, which explains why the city became the base shop for the 4-8-4s, Challengers and Big Boys. The engines themselves are outside the museum, but the museum promotes occasional Steam Shop Tours for close-up views of Union Pacific steam.

What is the UC&N Model Railroad at the Cheyenne Depot Museum?

The UC&N is a narrow gauge model railroad built by Harry W. Brunk, and the museum calls it beloved. It is one of the main reasons families visit, and the museum's site features it alongside the depot's history and the transcontinental railroad story. It is included with regular museum admission.

Does the Cheyenne Depot Museum have a gift shop?

Yes. The museum runs a gift shop, listed on its website alongside membership and donation options, and purchases there help support the nonprofit that maintains the depot. For current items or to ask about railroad books and souvenirs, call (307) 632-3905 or visit cheyennedepotmuseum.org.

When was the Cheyenne train depot built?

Union Pacific workers began building the depot on March 16, 1886, and the museum says it was completed, minus the clock, in November 1887. The clock was installed in 1890. The building was lengthened in 1922 and its interior redone in an Art Deco style in 1929, then renovated again from 2001 to 2006.

Who designed the Cheyenne Depot?

Union Pacific hired the Boston firm of Van Brunt & Howe in 1885, and the museum credits architect Henry Van Brunt. The firm followed the Romanesque style of H.H. Richardson, using red-orange and sand colored stone from a Union Pacific quarry in Bellevue, Colorado, with rounded arches and a six-story clock tower.

When did the Cheyenne Depot Museum open?

The Cheyenne Depot Museum was founded in 1993. An agreement between the Old West Museum and Cheyenne Frontier Days created Cheyenne Depot Museum, Inc. as a nonprofit, which leased the depot from the city of Cheyenne. The museum now acts as the steward of the National Historic Landmark building.

Do passenger trains still stop at the Cheyenne Depot?

No. Passenger service at the Cheyenne depot ended in 1979, when Amtrak moved its stop to Borie, about nine miles west, and bused passengers in. Amtrak passenger service in Wyoming ended entirely in 1997. Union Pacific freight trains still pass the depot, which is why the live railfan camera is popular.

What events happen at the Cheyenne Depot and Depot Plaza?

The Depot Plaza is downtown Cheyenne's gathering place, with Fridays on the Plaza, Depot Days, the Brewers Festival and a Cheyenne Frontier Days vendor show listed among the museum's events. Steam Shop Tours run when Union Pacific allows them. Check the museum's events calendar for this year's dates.

Can I rent the Cheyenne Depot for an event?

Yes. The museum offers lobby rentals in the historic depot, and rental income helps support the building. The museum does not post rental prices online in its overview, so contact info@cheyennedepotmuseum.org or call (307) 632-3905 to ask about dates, capacity and pricing for your event.

Is the Cheyenne Depot Museum good for kids?

Yes, especially for kids who love model trains. Children 12 and under get in free, the UC&N model railroad is a family favorite, and freight trains still roll past the depot. Younger children may enjoy the model railroad most, while older kids can follow the transcontinental railroad and Big Boy stories in the exhibits.

How long does it take to see the Cheyenne Depot Museum?

Most families can see the Cheyenne Depot Museum in about one to two hours, longer if your crew lingers at the model railroad or watches trains. With Sunday hours of 11 am to 3 pm and Saturday closing at 3 pm, give yourself enough time on weekends. Pair it with the Big Boy display for a fuller day.

Are there photos of the Cheyenne Depot Museum online?

Yes. The museum shares photos and news on its Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest pages, and its website hosts a Virtual Railfan Camera that streams live views of trains at the depot. The exhibits page also uses historic images from the Ehernberger Collection and the Wyoming State Archives.

What do visitors say about the Cheyenne Depot Museum?

Reviewers on travel sites tend to describe it as a modest museum that goes into real depth on the building of the transcontinental railroad, with special focus on the Wyoming section of the route. Many also mention the model railroad and the building itself. Read recent reviews on TripAdvisor before you go.

How can I support or volunteer at the Cheyenne Depot Museum?

The museum receives no city, state or federal operating funds, so support matters. You can become a member, donate, set up a planned gift, sponsor, or volunteer at events or in the museum. The website lists event volunteer, vendor and museum volunteer openings. Email info@cheyennedepotmuseum.org to get started.

What train attractions are near the Cheyenne Depot Museum?

The Big Boy No. 4004 exhibit is right in Cheyenne, and the Union Pacific Steam Shop is about a mile away across the tracks, open only for occasional tours. The Wyoming State Museum is about a mile away, and the Historic Laramie Railroad Depot is about 42 miles west.

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Kelsey Cecil
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