Wyoming History

Wyoming history is an intriguing tale of fur traders, Native Americans, explorers, railroad men and conservationists, making a fascinating study of the Old West with all its adventures and dangers.

  • Early fur traders likely hunted this region in the 1700s
  • John Colter’s reports about Yellowstone were thought to be fiction
  • The Union Pacific Railroad came to Cheyenne in 1867
  • Wyoming became a state in 1890
  • Today millions of visitors come to see Wyoming’s national parks and monuments

  • Undated History
    Wyoming was likely occupied as early as 7000 BC, but little is known of any inhabitants who lived these lands earlier than 1800.
  • 1700s
    It is suspected that early fur traders hunted this region.
  • Early 1800s
    Travelers through Wyoming in the early 1800s report encountering Blackfoot, Crow, Cheyenne and other tribes. These Native Americans lived on buffalo and other animals.
  • 1805
    Francois Antoine Larocque, a French-Canadian fur trader, was the first known visitor. He traded furs with the Indians near Powder River.
  • 1807
    John Colter explored western Wyoming and described the Yellowstone area in reports that were considered fictional by those who read them.
  • 1820s
    The fur trade boomed in Wyoming, with famous mountain men making their livings here, and selling furs to companies such as American Fur Company and Hudson’s Bay Company.
  • 1847
    Brigham Young led his Mormon followers through Wyoming on the Oregon Trail, later used as a pony express and stagecoach route.
  • 1862
    The Homestead Act of 1862 was an attempt to get the area settled, but filing claims didn’t pour in until the end of the century.
  • 1865
    Territorial status was proposed by an Ohio Congressman, James Ashley, by a bill introduced to Congress. He also suggested the name “Wyoming,” which means “at the big river flat.”
  • 1867
    The Union Pacific Railroad arrived at the town of Cheyenne and the population started to grow rapidly.
  • 1868
    The new territory of Wyoming was created. It consisted of lands that were at one time part of Dakota, Oregon, Idaho and Utah territories.
  • 1887
    Cattle ranching became the biggest business in Wyoming.
  • 1890
    Wyoming became the 44th state of the United States of America on July 10th.
  • Today
    Most of the state’s revenues come from the tourism industry. Millions of visitors come to see Wyoming’s national parks and monuments, with the key attractions being Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park and Devil’s Tower National Monument.

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