Created By: University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming began as a railroad town in 1868, located on the lands of the Arapaho, Shoshone, Cheyenne, Crow, and other tribal communities who called these mountains and plains their home. The little town took hold and, in 1886, received a land grant from the US government to form Wyoming's first--and only--four year public university in 1886. As the area has grown and evolved, it has become a rich memoryscape, honoring people and events throughout its ongoing existence.
During the spring semester 2023, nine senior English majors at the University of Wyoming chose different local sites of history and memory to study and research. Along with me, their professor (Dr. Nancy Small), they developed this tour as their final project. Our ten stops offer a bit of history: facts, dates, and other information about the person or event being honored. We also strive to consider these locations as creating community memory: stories, narratives, symbols, and themes explicitly and implicitly drawing us together via commemorative activities. Taken individually and collectively, these sites speak to us about where we come from, who we are in the present, and what might be our shared future.
Each stop includes a brief text description, supplemental links, photos, and a 2-3 minute audio recording. We hope you enjoy the tour and add your own photos and comments along the way!
For more information about Laramie, the University of Wyoming, and Wyoming History, give these sites a try:
Please send change requests to changerequest@pocketsights.com.