Wyoming State Capitol on the Prairie

A golden dome rises above Cheyenne, Wyoming, catching sunlight over the state capital. Beneath it stands the Wyoming State Capitol, a building where people make decisions that affect the entire state.

Wide front steps lead toward the Capitol’s entrance. The building’s pale stone walls and columns give it a formal appearance, while its dome makes it easy to recognize. The dome is covered with thin sheets of gold called gold leaf. Inside, visitors can look up into the rotunda, a large open space beneath the dome.

The Capitol is home to Wyoming’s legislature, the group of elected representatives who debate and pass state laws. It has two chambers, or groups: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The governor also has an office in the building. A bill must pass both chambers before it can be sent to the governor for action.

Construction on the Capitol began in 1886, when Wyoming was still a territory rather than a state. The building was used before Wyoming became a state in 1890, and additions were made over the years. A major restoration, completed in 2019, repaired and updated the Capitol while preserving many of its historic features.

Cheyenne is a city, so streets and buildings surround the Capitol. Beyond the city, however, the land opens into the broad grasslands of the High Plains. That prairie horizon is part of the landscape that has shaped Wyoming’s history. From its front steps to its shining dome, the Capitol connects the state’s past with the work of its government today.