Western history is so different than what you’ll find on the East Coast. While places like Virginia, Delaware, and New Jersey have buildings, churches, and cobblestone streets that date back to the 1600s, Wyoming’s history is a little different. We have incredibly old landmarks like our petroglyph sites, but compared to the over-developed East, it took quite a bit more time to industrialize the West. Take a look at photos from Wyoming’s early statehood days to see a little bit of the Cowboy State from a century ago.

Way back in the early 1900s, Wyoming was just getting its footing as a state. It was admitted to the Union in 1890, and this photo from ten years later shows that it was still quite a remote land.
Facebook / South Pass City State Historic Site
Land is about the only thing Wyoming had at the time - and early residents took advantage of it! This sheep herder, pictured in Natrona County, tended to his flock on the open range.
Photogrammar / Arthur Rothstein
Resources could be scarce, considering that more modern utilities hadn't made it out west yet. Take a look at this natural spring well that was photographed in the 1930s.
Photogrammar / Arthur Rothstein
In the past, Wyoming has always worked hard to protect what resources it had. This photo from 1937 shows drought inspectors visiting a dam in Gillette.
Photogrammar / Arthur Rothstein

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Despite being a primitive land, Wyoming has always been quite proud of what it had to offer visitors and prospective residents. Lots of people traveling through on emigrant trails in the late 1800s had decided to stay here and establish their lives.
Photogrammar / Arthur Rothstein
Speaking of visitors - do you remember the days before Jackson became a Hollywood town? How's this farm photo for a throwback?
Photogrammar / Arthur Rothstein
No matter how much time has passed, though, some things never change. Take a look at the snow chains on this early car and you'll see that Wyomingite's have always been able to figure out how to cope with our wild weather.
Facebook / South Pass City State Historic Site
One thing that's certainly remained unchanged is the landscape. For most of us, the sight of our mountains, scenic rivers, and high desert prairie is what keeps us rooted here in the Cowboy State.
Photogrammar / Arthur Rothstein

If you love learning about Wyoming history, read Here Are The 12 Oldest Towns In Wyoming – And They’re Loaded With History. You’ll want to visit them all!

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