Laramie Historic Railroad Depot, Wyoming

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Laramie, Wyoming · Updated October 19, 2026 · 11 min read

Depot museumFreeMuseum open Mondays 9 am to 2 pm and by appointment

The Laramie Historic Railroad Depot is the 1924 Union Pacific passenger station in downtown Laramie, the only building left from the railroad's once large presence in the town it created, now kept alive by volunteers as a free museum and community gathering place.

  • Opened October 6, 1924
  • National Register listed 1988
  • Free museum and tours
  • Restored Snow Train caboose
  • Rare Otto Perry steam films
  • Volunteer run association

Laramie Historic Railroad Depot at a glance

Hours
Museum open Mondays 9 am to 2 pm (hours may vary) and by appointment
Admission
Free; donations appreciated
Seasonal events
Open House at the Depot, Snow Train Downtown Music Festival
Plan for
About 45 minutes for a guided tour
Best for
Rail history fans and families on a downtown Laramie stroll
Best ages
Ages 5 and up

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Laramie Historic Railroad Depot? 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 Laramie.

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.

Laramie's station, rebuilt after the 1917 fire

Laramie exists because of the railroad. On May 4, 1868, a train whistle announced the first train to reach town on the newest section of the Union Pacific. A spring snowstorm shut the line the very next day, but settlers kept coming, and within two weeks more than 2,000 people lived in Laramie, most of them having arrived by rail.

The first thing those newcomers saw was the station, which the railroad also ran as a hotel and restaurant at the foot of today's Ivinson Avenue. After Major Thomas Thornburg died at Milk River in 1879, it became known as the Thornburg Hotel. Wings were added in 1900, but on October 17, 1917 the station burned, and only the northern addition that served as the women's waiting room survived. That small room was patched up and served as Laramie's station for seven years.

The current depot opened at 7 pm on October 6, 1924. Its new site at 1st and Kearney let Union Pacific realign the main line and enlarge the Laramie yards. It served Union Pacific passengers until 1971 and Amtrak until 1983. In 1985 the railroad gave the building to the Laramie Plains Museum, which passed it to the Laramie Railroad Depot Association in 2009. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

Today the association's volunteers and board keep it going. They lead tours, host concerts, art shows and public meetings, rent the building for weddings and banquets to pay the bills, and restore equipment like the Snow Train caboose. Board members Ben and Charles have spent countless hours digitizing rare railroad films, a gift to anyone who loves steam.

Rail tools, hands-on exhibits and Depot Park

The Depot Museum holds Union Pacific memorabilia and tools, with special attention to rail laying and welding, the work that kept the line running through Laramie for a century. The museum describes itself as interactive, with exhibits, artifacts and hands-on displays about the people and technology that shaped the region. A free volunteer-led tour of the building takes about 45 minutes.

The depot's history pages also feature Railroad Heritage Park, Snow Train 900015, Steam Engine 535, a bunk car and Caboose 25232, so ask your guide which pieces you can see on the day. The newest star is the fully restored Snow Train caboose, unveiled in Depot Park on September 20, 2025 during the Snow Train Downtown Music Festival. Inside, look for the depot's growing film archive: digitized 16mm reels by railroad photographer Otto Perry, including Union Pacific 535 racing past Camp Colorado and Union Pacific 4013 passing through Laramie on August 4, 1956.

Don’t miss

  1. The restored Snow Train cabooseUnveiled in Depot Park in September 2025 after a full restoration, it honors Laramie's railroad roots.
  2. Otto Perry steam filmsRare 1950s Union Pacific footage from the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club Collection, digitized by depot volunteers and given sound.
  3. Rail laying and welding toolsThe museum's focus on track work shows the hands that built and maintained the line.
  4. Steam Engine 535Featured in the depot's history pages, and a Union Pacific 535 also races past Camp Colorado in the Perry films.
  5. The 1924 depot buildingTake the free guided tour to hear how the depot replaced the burned Thornburg Hotel station.

Hands-on displays and a caboose outside

The museum calls its exhibits interactive, with hands-on displays that suit curious grade-schoolers, and the restored Snow Train caboose unveiled in Depot Park gives younger kids something big to look at. The free 45-minute tour is a good length for families, and the November open house has offered behind-the-scenes tours and live demonstrations aimed at families and students.

Because the depot also hosts private events, museum hours can change. Check the tours calendar or call before you go with little ones.

Plan your visit: tips for Laramie Historic Railroad Depot

  • Request a free guided tour at least 24 hours ahead through the depot's website.
  • Check the tours calendar: private events can affect museum hours.
  • Calls are welcome at (307) 399-7345, but the line does not take texts.
  • Watch the depot's live camera online before or after your visit.
  • Donations go straight to utilities, upkeep and public programs.

The depot is a working community space as well as a museum. In 2025 it held a free open house in November with behind-the-scenes tours and live demonstrations, and in September it unveiled the restored Snow Train caboose with the Snow Train Downtown Music Festival in Depot Park. Concerts, art exhibits and public meetings fill the calendar the rest of the year, so follow the depot's Facebook page for what is next.

The Laramie Railroad Depot Association

Since 2009 the Laramie Railroad Depot Association has owned the building, and volunteers lead every tour. The depot pays its own way through rentals and donations, which cover utilities, maintenance, public programs and events. You can help by donating online, booking the depot for a wedding or banquet, giving to restoration projects like the caboose, or simply joining a tour and leaving a donation.

Over Sherman Hill to Cheyenne

Cheyenne is about 42 miles east, with the Cheyenne Depot Museum, the Big Boy No. 4004 exhibit and the Union Pacific Steam Shop all close together. Head west about 91 miles for the historic depot in Rawlins. Our list of Wyoming railroad museums has every stop.

Every train museum in Wyoming

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi dreaming about his toy turtle, green bone and yellow ball
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

When I read that Laramie's first settlers stepped off the train into a station that was also a hotel, I pictured all those trunks and bags. In our book, Rally's bag is small but very important: a turtle toy, a green bone and his yellow ball, packed before he rides off with Mom and Dad. My mom imagined that little suitcase, and I painted it for her. Read how the book came to be.

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 Laramie Historic Railroad Depot?

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.

Laramie Historic Railroad Depot: 20 questions answered

What is the Laramie Historic Railroad Depot?

It is Laramie's 1924 Union Pacific passenger station, now owned by the Laramie Railroad Depot Association. The building houses a free railroad museum, hosts free volunteer-led tours, and serves as a community space for concerts, exhibits, meetings and private events. It is the only building left from Union Pacific's large presence in Laramie.

Where is the historic Laramie Union Pacific train depot?

The depot is at 1st and Kearney Street in downtown Laramie, with a physical address of 600 South 1st Street, Laramie, Wyoming 82072. It sits in Depot Park. The mailing address is P.O. Box 623, Laramie, WY 82073, if you are sending a donation by mail.

What are the Laramie Depot Museum hours?

As of October 2026, the depot says its museum is open Mondays from 9 am to 2 pm, though hours may vary, and it is also open by appointment. Private events can affect museum hours, so check the tours calendar on laramiedepot.org or call (307) 399-7345 before you visit.

Is the Laramie Railroad Depot Museum free?

Yes. The museum is free to the public, and the volunteer-led guided tours are free too, though donations are appreciated. Donations go directly to keeping the depot open year-round, covering utility bills, building maintenance, public programs and event coordination.

How do I book a tour of the Laramie Depot?

Request a free guided tour through the form on the depot's visit page at laramiedepot.org. Check the tours calendar first, since dates marked reserved are already taken, and give at least 24 hours' notice. Tours are led by depot volunteers and last about 45 minutes.

When was the Laramie train depot built?

The current depot officially opened at 7 pm on October 6, 1924. It replaced the original Union Pacific depot and hotel, which burned on October 17, 1917. For the seven years between, a surviving women's waiting room served as Laramie's station.

What happened to Laramie's first train station?

Laramie's first station doubled as a hotel and restaurant at the foot of today's Ivinson Avenue and became known as the Thornburg Hotel after 1879. It was enlarged in 1900, then burned on October 17, 1917. Only the northern addition, the women's waiting room, was saved.

When did passenger trains stop at the Laramie Depot?

The depot served as Laramie's Union Pacific passenger station until 1971 and then as an Amtrak station until 1983. Union Pacific gave the building to the Laramie Plains Museum in 1985, and ownership passed to the Laramie Railroad Depot Association in 2009.

Is the Laramie Depot on the National Register of Historic Places?

Yes. The Laramie Railroad Depot was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. It is recognized as an important part of Laramie's history, since the railroad is the reason the city exists in the first place.

What is in the Laramie Railroad Depot Museum?

The museum holds Union Pacific memorabilia and tools, with an emphasis on rail laying and welding, and it describes its exhibits as interactive with hands-on displays. Items trace Union Pacific's ties to Laramie over the last century. The depot also has a growing archive of digitized steam-era films.

What is the Snow Train caboose in Laramie?

It is a restored Snow Train rolling stock caboose, unveiled on September 20, 2025 in Depot Park during the Snow Train Downtown Music Festival. The depot calls it a living reminder of Laramie's railroad history. Donations helped fund the restoration project.

What are the Otto Perry films at the Laramie Depot?

They are rare 16mm films of Union Pacific steam in southeastern Wyoming by railroad photographer Otto Perry, part of the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club Collection. Depot volunteers are digitizing them and adding sound. Clips include Union Pacific 535 and Union Pacific 4013, filmed in Laramie in 1956.

Is the Laramie Depot good for kids?

Yes, for kids who like trains and hands-on exhibits. The museum is interactive, the guided tour runs about 45 minutes, and the restored caboose in Depot Park is easy to spot. Admission is free, so a short visit with young children is easy to fit into a day downtown.

Can I rent the Laramie Railroad Depot?

Yes. The depot is rented for weddings, banquets and other events, and rentals help the association pay to maintain the building. Use the Rent the Depot link on laramiedepot.org or email info@laramiedepot.org to ask about dates and pricing.

Does the Laramie Depot have an open house?

Yes. In 2025 the depot held a free open house in November with behind-the-scenes tours, live demonstrations and a chance to meet the volunteers. Watch the depot's website and Facebook page for future open house dates.

Can I watch trains live at the Laramie Depot?

Yes. The depot's website has a Watch Live feature, so you can see what is happening along the tracks in Laramie from anywhere. It is a fun way to get kids excited before a visit or to keep watching after you head home.

Who runs the Laramie Historic Railroad Depot?

The Laramie Railroad Depot Association has owned the depot since 2009, and volunteers lead its guided tours. The association's board also leads projects such as digitizing the Otto Perry films and restoring the Snow Train caboose.

How can I support the Laramie Railroad Depot?

Donate online through the depot's website, give to restoration projects, rent the building for an event, or join a free tour and leave a donation. The depot says donations go directly to utilities, maintenance, public programs and events that keep it open year-round.

How do I contact the Laramie Historic Railroad Depot?

Email info@laramiedepot.org or call (307) 399-7345; the depot notes that the number does not accept texts. You can also fill out the contact form on laramiedepot.org. The mailing address is P.O. Box 623, Laramie, WY 82073.

What train museums are near Laramie, Wyoming?

Cheyenne is about 42 miles east, with the Cheyenne Depot Museum, the Wyoming State Museum, the Big Boy No. 4004 display and the Union Pacific Steam Shop. The Historic Rawlins Union Pacific Depot is about 91 miles west.

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Kelsey Cecil
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