9 Most Charming Town Squares In Wyoming

Many Wyoming communities never developed formal European-style town squares with a central green, yet they did build downtown districts, plazas, and landmark buildings that became natural gathering places. In this guide, the term “town square” is used broadly to include both traditional squares, such as Jackson’s George Washington Memorial Park, and the central downtowns or civic sites in other towns that serve the same purpose.

The town centers in Wyoming offer incredibly welcoming introductions to the state’s intriguing local history, diverse civic life, and nearby natural attractions. The nine squares below each serve as convenient starting points for exploring the state with walking tours, museum visits, outdoor excursions, seasonal festivals, or even the simplicity of an evening stroll. If you’re looking to discover more about the Cowboy State, start with exploring these lively town squares.

Jackson (George Washington Memorial Park)

Jackson’s Town Square, formally named George Washington Memorial Park, functioned as the town’s civic heart and tourist hub. Four archways built from shed elk antlers mark the park’s corners, while boardwalk-lined streets offer galleries, outfitters, and restaurants. Take a stroll from the square to the many art galleries and select a gallery showing western landscape and wildlife work or indulge in a locally sourced meal at one of the many nearby restaurants. Use the square as an easy meeting point for wildlife and history focused guided tours of the National Elk Refuge and book a sleigh or wildlife viewing tour during winter months. For a half-day outing, drive the short distance to Grand Teton National Park for mountain views, or pick up maps and permits for nearby trailheads at local outfitters. Visitors who preferred a focused cultural stop could visit the Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum to learn about early exploration and the valley’s development.

Cody (Downtown Cody and Sheridan Avenue)

Downtown Cody placed the Buffalo Bill Center of the West within easy reach of Sheridan Avenue’s historic storefronts and passenger-friendly sidewalks. Begin at the center to explore five interlinked museums that covered frontier history, Native American culture, natural history, and western firearms. Walk Sheridan Avenue to browse western-art galleries, specialty outfitters, and shops, then dine at a local restaurant serving regional fare like Cody Steakhouse. During summer months, the nearby Cody Nite Rodeo offers nightly rodeo performances that continue a long tradition of rodeo entertainment. For a scenic half-day, drive west toward Yellowstone National Park or arrange a guided birding or wildlife tour from downtown operators. Travelers who wish to learn more about the town’s founder could visit the Buffalo Bill Museum exhibits that documented William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody’s role in the region’s history.

Sheridan (Historic Main Street)

Sheridan’s downtown corridor and historic blocks provide an accessible cluster of early 20th-century architecture, public art, and cultural institutions centered on Historic Main Street. Walk the length of the main thoroughfare and pause at storefront galleries for contemporary and traditional western art, drop into a locally owned saloon or cafe for a midday break, and visit King's Saddlery and the associated Don King Western Museum to examine cowboy leatherwork and saddlery that tells the story of ranch life in Sheridan County. Continue along main street and check out the WYO Theatre, an art deco masterpiece of architecture, and the oldest, operating vaudeville theatre in the state.

Laramie (Downtown and Depot Park)

Laramie’s historic downtown near Depot Park serves as a cultural hub that blends university influence with frontier heritage. Visitors can begin at Depot Park, where interpretive panels explain Laramie’s railroad origins and preserved depot architecture offers a backdrop for seasonal events. A short walk leads into the University of Wyoming Geological Museum, which displays full-scale dinosaur skeletons and rotating earth science exhibits. For a different view of Wyoming culture, the University of Wyoming Art Museum houses modern and traditional art collections, along with regional exhibitions. Those who prefer local shopping and dining could spend time exploring downtown’s independent bookstores, outdoor gear shops, and coffeehouses.

Riverton (Main Street and Riverfront)

Riverton’s central downtown and riverfront forms a convenient launching point for exploring cultural and historical attractions in Wind River country. A natural first stop was the Riverton Museum, which offers exhibits on homesteading, agriculture, and Indigenous history. Just across town, the Wind River Heritage Center features taxidermy displays of regional wildlife and a frontier town replica that would appeal to families. Travelers can also stroll along the Riverwalk trail system for views of the Wind River and opportunities to spot birds and other wildlife. Those interested in regional culture could drive a short distance onto the Wind River Indian Reservation for cultural tours, powwows, and interpretive centers hosted by the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Nations. Whether spending a day in town or using Riverton as a base for day trips, the mix of museums, trails, and cultural opportunities makes the community a meaningful stop in central Wyoming.

Thermopolis (Town Plaza and Hot Springs)

Thermopolis combines its small-town plaza with immediate access to Hot Springs State Park, one of Wyoming’s most famous attractions. Visitors can walk from downtown to the park to view its colorful mineral terraces, soak in the State Bath House’s free hot mineral pools and follow paved trails along the Big Horn River. Families can expand their trip by visiting the Wyoming Dinosaur Center, a major museum with an impressive fossil collection and opportunities for dig-site tours. In addition, the Hot Springs County Museum and Cultural Center provides exhibits on frontier life, early settlement, and regional stories. For those who want a relaxed outing, picnicking by the park’s suspension bridge or strolling its flower gardens creates a slower-paced way to enjoy the hot springs setting. Thermopolis’s ability to combine geology, paleontology, and history within minutes of its plaza made it a rare stop with attractions for all ages.

Evanston (Depot Square)

Evanston’s Depot Square reflects the town’s railroad heritage and offers a starting point for exploring several cultural landmarks. The restored Union Pacific Railroad Depot stands at the square’s center and serves as a focal point for events and walking tours. A short walk away, the Chinese Joss House Museum preserves artifacts from Evanston’s 19th-century Chinese community, providing context for immigrant labor in the region’s railroads and coal mines. The nearby Uinta County Museum, houses in a historic courthouse, showcasing exhibits on ranching, frontier life, and Evanston’s role as a transportation hub. Seasonal farmers markets and community festivals also take place in and around Depot Square, offering opportunities to sample regional produce and crafts.

Lander (Downtown Plaza and Cultural Sites)

Lander’s downtown functions as a gateway to the Wind River Range and to local cultural institutions clustered near the town plaza. Visit the Fremont County Pioneer Museum for county history exhibits, then take a short walk to the Museum of the American West to survey regional art and material culture that reflected frontier, ranching, and Indigenous histories. A short drive south of the plaza leads to Sinks Canyon State Park, where the Popo Agie River sank into limestone caverns and reappeared a short distance downstream, a phenomenon notable to geologists and recreational anglers alike. Lander’s downtown often features music nights, art walks, and seasonal festivals, so visitors who time their trip for an event could combine cultural programming with trail-based recreation in a single weekend. Park interpretive trails and nearby bouldering routes make Lander a practical base for mixing museum visits with half-day outdoor adventures.

Rock Springs (Downtown Historic District)

Rock Springs’ downtown historic district functions as its civic center, with interpretive signs and preserved buildings that trace the community’s mining and immigrant history. Begin with a self-guided tour of the Downtown Rock Springs Historic District, where brick storefronts and murals tell stories of the town’s coal mining past. For a deeper dive into heritage, the Rock Springs Historical Museum, housed in the former city hall and fire station, contains artifacts related to local industry and law enforcement. Art lovers can visit the Community Fine Arts Center, which displays an extensive collection of American art donated by the Works Progress Administration and private collectors. Seasonal events such as the International Day Festival celebrates the many nationalities that have contributed to Rock Springs’ cultural fabric.

All of these nine town squares serve as excellent starting points to discovering the wonder of Wyoming. Each one offers visitors concentrated access to local museums, historic sites, outdoor trailheads, community programming, independent shopping, and so much more. Largely centrally located, the squares function as practical meeting points for guided tours, as starting locations for scenic day trips, and as compact places to experience a mix of each town’s unique history, culture, and landscape within short distances.