These Towns in Wyoming Have a Rich Cultural Heritage

Known for its expansive open spaces (Wyoming is the least densely populated state in the contiguous US), "the Equality State" draws visitors with its breathtaking natural beauty. However, aside from its jagged peaks, dense forests, and wide-open prairies, the home state of Yellowstone (and Old Faithful) boasts a vibrant Western culture. For instance, several Wyoming towns feature a rich cowboy culture, while others boast fascinating rodeos, trail rides, and other Western-themed festivals. On the culinary landscape, Wyoming is often associated with meaty steak and ribs. Uncover seven towns in Wyoming that have a rich cultural heritage and are worth checking out.

Sheridan

Sheridan is hands-down among the best places to visit in the United States. You may first want to sit in a relaxed atmosphere for prime rib at Wyoming's Rib & Chop House after savoring a yummy shrimp appetizer. This is especially true if you want to experience a culinary item for which this Western state is most famous. After getting energized, consider exploring the Bighorn Mountains from the saddle — amid sun-dappled wildflowers and beautiful mountain scenery. Minutes from town, the Tongue River Cave boasts 1.23 miles of passages and goes 106 feet deep. Yet the downtown is not to be missed. There are numerous two-story buildings, most of which have remained unchanged since Sheridan was founded in 1882.

Cody

If Cody had no other attractions, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West would still make this old Western town travel-worthy. There are five world-class museums, all under one roof. Wyoming boasts the highest gun ownership rates after Montana — and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West — perhaps to highlight this cultural tradition provides enlightening information regarding how firearms work. You will also learn about the man fondly called Buffalo Bill, a well-heeled Pony Express rider and Cody founder who dramatized the facts and flavor of the American West through fiction and theatrical enactments. The museum that honors his memory is as Western as ever. Finally, the Cody Night Rodeo, which takes place every summer night, is a heart-thrilling spectacle worth experiencing.

Thermopolis

Thermopolis boasts a population of about 3,000 (a remarkable feat for a Wyoming town) and is mostly known for its numerous hot springs, whose mineral-rich waters provide an awesome soaking experience. You can even soak for free at the State Bath House in Hot Springs State Park — provided you do not take more than 20 minutes. The Big Spring is noted for its mesmerizing turquoise-blue waters and its size as the world's largest mineral hot spring. Herds of bison roam this area and are an awesome sight.

To experience the cultural side of Thermopolis, you may want your visit to coincide with the Wyoming Discovery Days Folk Festival, an August event that sees participants watch live cultural demonstrations, feed wild animals, eat delicious food, and enjoy live folk music. Still, the Hot Springs County Museum & Cultural Center, with its period jails, homes, barber shop, and coal mines, is the best venue for a glimpse into early pioneer life.

Lander

Lander, the place "where the rails end and the trails begin," is one of Wyoming's most loved outdoor adventure destinations. Classic cowboy hats, typically the Stetson brand, and thick-leathered Birkenstock sandals are not infrequent sightings in this slow-paced adventure wonderland. Lander's outdoor offerings include the glacier-pocked Wind River Range, Sinks Canyon State Park (best known for its disappearing river), and the nearby Wild Iris, one of the West's most iconic rock-climbing destinations.

The Cowfish restaurant is a genuine diamond in the rough — and is a place where taste buds aret tantalized with a delightful variety of food and craft beers. At the Museum of the American West, authentic period buildings are well preserved and presented in a beautiful garden landscape. A hub of apple orchards, Lander hosts the Apple City Festival every September, where participants can sample a wide variety of tastefully prepared apples.

Buffalo

Buffalo is not named for the grumpy (and dangerously unpredictable) animals that mostly roam the swampy wilds of Asia — but for Buffalo, New York. Incorporated as a town in 1884, the same year the eight-hour workday was first proclaimed by the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions, Buffalo boasts a rich history and cultural heritage. In downtown Buffalo, interesting murals artistically showcase various elements of the town's culture and key themes of the iconic American West.

At the Potters' Depot, one can catch a local potter bringing to life a fantastic selection of handmade pottery, whether honey pots, pie plates, or berry bowls. On the other hand, the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum is an awesome repository of the area's history and culture. At the Historic Occidental Hotel (founded in 1880), you can spend in the same room where Butch Cassidy (the leader of the notorious "Wild Bunch"), Teddy Roosevelt, and Calamity Jane once slept.

Laramie

Laramie occupies the southeast corner of Wyoming, about 50 miles west of the state capital, Cheyenne — along the river that lends it its name. This town's rustic appeal is enhanced by being encircled by divisions of the Medicine Bow National Forest, a stunning expanse with numerous Wild West adventure options. This town was the site of the first mixed jury trial in the nation. Once a lawless frontier brimming with rowdy saloons, Laramie boasts a fascinating history and cultural heritage.

Buckhorn Bar & Parlor (established in 1900), from where some believe the Wild West began — and in whose wood-paneled walls the West still exists — is as real, old-school, and evocative as it can get. Buckhorn's second floor ostensibly served as a raucous brothel well into the early 1900s. But to get the ultimate cultural experience, you may want to visit Laramie during the Cheyenne Frontier Days. Held every year during the last full week of July, this festival is reputed to be the world's largest outdoor rodeo.

Wamsutter

While it may not be on everyone's lips, Wamsutter's cultural offerings have long captivated first-time visitors. Rightly called the "Gateway to the Red Desert," where magical sights and surreal landscapes are known to melt hearts, Wamsutter is something out of a painting. The Great Basin's only town in Wyoming is not home to many, however — just less than 300 souls. Regardless, it serves as the area's hub for sheep ranching, oil production, and wild horse roundups: The Old West personified.

Grab a meal at Jerry's Place and rest for the day at the Sunset Inn, a dated property that feels homey if not fancy. Wamsutter and the area around it host the world's only desert elk herd. Also, here is where you can to find the largest herd of Pronghorn antelopes on the planet.

The Grand Tetons. Yellowstone National Park. The ghostly rocks of Vedauwoo. And then some. However, Wyoming is not just these world-famous natural features. Known as the Cowboy State, Wyoming is known for its rich Old West cultural tradition. Here is where to experience the thrill of a rodeo, explore unbelievably expansive ranches, and wander about in vast, open fields. To best experience the rich cultural heritage of Wyoming, set out to towns such as Buffalo, Sheridan, and Cody.