Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails - Statehood Day Celebration at the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site in Laramie

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Contact: Jessica Lira, 307-745-6161; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Statehood Day Celebration at the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site in Laramie

LARAMIE, Wyo. – June 19, 2025 – The Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site will celebrate Wyoming's 1890 statehood with a special event on July 10. Guests can enjoy free admission all day, with activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., thanks to the sponsorship of the Wyoming Territorial Park Historic Association.

"We are thrilled to invite the community to join us in celebrating Wyoming's rich history on Statehood Day," said Jessica Lira, superintendent of the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site. "This event will be a wonderful opportunity for families to experience 19th-century life and create lasting memories. We look forward to seeing everyone at the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site!"

This family-friendly celebration will feature a variety of activities, including appearances by Cowboy Joe, Jubilee Days Royalty, a balloon twister, and costumed interpreters portraying life in 19th-century Laramie. Laramie's Sagebrush Stringband will provide live music from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Each visitor will receive a complimentary cupcake while supplies last, and food trucks will be on-site, offering a variety of delicious options.

Activities include demonstrations of candle-making and hand-processed wool, along with a stick horse rodeo for children aged five and under. For just $20, visitors can capture a piece of history with a professional tintype portrait taken using a camera with a lens from the 1800s.

Built in 1872, the Wyoming Territorial Prison has a storied history, housing over 1,000 outlaws, including the infamous Butch Cassidy. After a new prison was constructed in Rawlins in 1903, the facility was repurposed by the University of Wyoming as an agricultural experiment station until 2004, when it became managed by Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources as a historic site.

The regular operating hours for the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site are from May through September, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, and October through April, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday through Saturday.

Learn more about Wyoming State Parks and Historic Sites at wyoparks.wyo.gov.

Figure 1: The Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site in Laramie, image courtesy of Wyoming State Parks. Figure 2: Cowboy Joe and his handlers, image courtesy of the University of Wyoming. Figure 3: Jubilee Days Royalty, image courtesy of Cedar Mountain Photography.

Contact: Jessica Lira, 307-745-6161; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.