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    Optimist Park

    3.4 (5 reviews)

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    Wyoming Territorial Park

    Wyoming Territorial Park

    4.5(8 reviews)
    0.5 km

    I made a drive by appearance at the Wyoming Territorial Prison because I didn't have the time or…read morefunds to visit the museum. I bet it would be c ool to see though, especially if you're a fan of outlaws, in particularly Butch Cassidy. Wyoming Territorial Prison was built in 1872 and restored and renovated in the 1990s by the efforts of the citizens of Laramie. There were 12 women housed here and more than 1,000 men, the most famous of which was Robert LeRoy Parker "Butch Cassidy". With territorial status, there came a need in Wyoming for a facility to house convicted felons. In 1869, the territorial legislature approved the construction of a prison. The federal government approved funding the following year and two years later the 42 cell facility opened with Deputy United States Marshal Nathaniel. K. Boswell as first warden. Until then convicted felons were housed at the Detroit House of Corrections. Unfortunately, the opening of the new prison did not solve the problem, since the expense of the Laramie facility was greater than shipping the inmates out of the Territory. The Prison charged as much as a $1.00 per day for each prisoner, while after 1878 Nebraska agreed to house inmates in its State Penitentiary for only forty cents. During the period 1882 to 1887 Illinois agreed to house the prisoners for free. Thus, during the period from 1882 to 1887 most inmates went off to Joliet. Indeed, a federal inspection of the Laramie facility in 1884 found only 10 inmates, some of whom were permitted to go into town on Saturday night. Behind the prison on the right is the broom factory. In addition to brooms, the inmates constructed furniture, some of which is on display in the Laramie Plains Museum. To the left of the prison is the horse barn. The barn is now used for a dinner theatre and a museum devoted to the Federal Marshals Service. The small building on the left, is the warden's residence. After 1887, the Penitentiary was overcrowded even with the construction of a new wing. The new wing housed three cells for women inmates and medical facilities. Rules for inmates were strict. They were required, among other things, to bath in the summertime twice a week. In the winter they might be required to bathe only once a week. They laundered and made their own clothes. Among the inmates was Butch Cassidy. Although construction of a new prison at Rawlins was proposed as early as 1886, it was not until 1903 that a new facility was opened. It is an old saw (but not true) that in the distribution of the capitol to Cheyenne, the prison to Rawlins, the lunatic asylum to Evanston, and the University to Laramie, that Laramie had last choice. With the opening of the new facility at Rawlins, the old prison was converted to the Agriculture Experiment Station under Bert C. Buffum as director. The area has now been converted back to a park and museum and includes the United States Marshals' Museum and exhibits as to early ranch life. While at the prison, visitors can check out other sites on the grounds, including the historically furnished Frontier Town, the Warden's House, a Union Pacific boxcar and the Horse Barn Exhibit Hall.

    I have been to this museum over 12 times. It is usually a ton of fun to visit and extremely…read moreinteresting. I usually highly recommend it. Most of the employees are volunteers. If you come here make sure you go to the Butch Cassidy Exhibit. Due to Covid it's difficult to get around the historical site now. I brought a friend here today, in the person at the cash register was kind of rude. Chalk it up to Covid. If you are in LARAMIE... And this place isn't packed... With lines of people trying to get through... I do recommend checking it out!

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    Wyoming Territorial Park
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    Optimist Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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