Top 9 Things to do in Rawlins, Wyoming (WY)

May 13, 2022 Carley Gatson

Rawlins is a city in Carbon County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 9,259 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Carbon County. It was named for Union General John Aaron Rawlins, who camped in the locality in 1867.
Restaurants in Rawlins

1. Carbon County Museum

904 W Walnut St, Rawlins, WY 82301-6556 +1 307-328-2740 [email protected] http://www.carboncountymuseum.org/
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5.0 based on 32 reviews

Carbon County Museum

The Carbon County Museum collects, conserves, interprets and disseminates regional history to inspire Carbon County cultural entities and all learners – today and tomorrow. The CCM has several exhibits and displays that celebrate the history and culture of the communities and natural habitat of this county. These topics include, among others, our Native American past, the role of the settlers as they came West, and the various technologies used in order to adapt to a harsh environment upon arrival. We also have on display one of the country’s largest exhibits devoted to the Union Pacific Railroad, which has been instrumental in the social and economic development of much of this region for over 150 years.

Reviewed By bdalton08 - American Fork, United States

We stopped in Rawlins, hoping to visit the jail. Unfortunately it was closed as they prepared for Halloween. We were happy to find this museum open. It was great! We have young kids who aren’t normally fans of a museum. This museum has a great little scavenger hunt to keep the kids interested and engaged. My kids loved it! It is bigger than it looks, and has tons of great historical items. Definitely worth a visit!

2. Geek-ish Things

208 W Cedar St, Rawlins, WY 82301-5626 +1 307-370-0190 [email protected] http://Geek-ishThings.com
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5.0 based on 3 reviews

Geek-ish Things

Games, Novelties, and gifts. Explore Extraordinary in this place for unique and fun items. Sit down and enjoy a game, or shop for that perfect gift. We have a wide range of items to fit any budget, and smiles are our specialty!

Reviewed By 524stefaniew - Peoria, United States

We stopped in because the name of the shop sounded fun!! Our kids loved all of the fun items and we ended up with delicious teas to take home. Aaron is the friendliest and most helpful guy ever! We all highly recommend a visit to this unique shop - and look forward to our next stop at Geek-ish Things.

3. Windswept Goods

410 W Cedar St, Rawlins, WY 82301-5637 +1 307-321-2667 [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/windsweptgoods/
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

Windswept Goods

4. Wyoming Frontier Prison

500 W Walnut St, Rawlins, WY 82301-4768 +1 307-324-4422 [email protected] http://wyomingfrontierprison.org/
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4.5 based on 268 reviews

Wyoming Frontier Prison

The eighty year history of Wyoming’s first state penitentiary, now known as the Wyoming Frontier Prison, is as colorful and elaborate as the plot of a classic western movie. The cornerstone of the prison was laid in 1888, but due to funding issues and Wyoming’s notorious weather, the doors wouldn’t open for thirteen years. In December of 1901, the prison opened and consisted of 104 cells (Cell Block A), no electricity or running water, and very inadequate heating. Throughout the prison’s operation, approximately 13,500 people were incarcerated, including eleven women. Overcrowding was an almost constant concern, and the first of several additions to the penitentiary was completed in 1904, adding 32 cells to the west end of the original cell block (Cell Block A). Women were housed in the prison until 1909, until the last woman was transferred to Colorado. The addition of the second cell block (Cell Block B) in 1950 temporarily relieved the overcrowding, and also included solitary confinement cells, a much more efficient heating system, and hot running water which wouldn’t be installed in the original cell block for another twenty-eight years. A maximum security addition (Cell Block C) was completed in 1966, but the addition only included thirty-six cells and was reserved for serious discipline cases. The prison was equipped with several different means of disciplining inmates throughout its operation, including a dungeon, several variations of solitary confinement and a “punishment pole” to which men were handcuffed and whipped with rubber hoses. The prison also used different execution methods.. The first two executions were carried out using the “traveling” Julien Gallows which were used to hang Tom Horn in Cheyenne in 1903. In 1916, the penitentiary completed the addition of a “death house” which consisted of six cells to house inmates on death row, and a unique indoor version of the Julien Gallows. The building also housed the gas chamber when it was chosen to replace hanging as Wyoming’s execution method of choice in 1936. Ultimately 14 death sentences were carried out; nine men were hanged, and five were executed in the gas chamber by the use of hydrocyanic acid gas. The Wyoming Frontier Prison is a remnant of the grizzly past of the old west, but not every aspect of prison life was so off-putting. Over the 80-year operation, the prison produced goods to meet demands of four major industries. From 1901 through 1917 the prison had a broom factory, but inmates burned it down during a riot. The factory was rebuilt and operated as a shirt factory which brought in twice the revenue to the state. In 1934, a federal law was passed to prohibit the sale and transportation of prison manufactured goods from one state to another, which resulted in the loss of significant revenue when the factory closed. In 1935, the factory began operating as a woolen mill which won the “Navy E” in 1942 for the superior quality blankets produced by the prison for the military during World War II. In 1949 the prison changed production one last time, producing license plates until the penitentiary closed in 1981. After serving the state for eighty years, the prison closed its doors, and sat abandoned until 1987 when a low budget movie titled “Prison” was filmed on location. The movie was one of Viggo Mortensen’s first and featured several other well known actors. Significant damage was done to the prison grounds during filming because it had yet to be considered a historic site. In 1988, a joint powers board assumed ownership of the penitentiary, dubbed it The Wyoming Frontier Prison, and established it as a museum. The Wyoming Frontier Prison has since been listed on The National Registry of Historic Places, and offers tours to approximately 15,000 visitors annually.

Reviewed By TobyRyane - Hart, United States

This is most definitely worth a stop. You go through pretty much the whole prison. The prison was built around 1902 and used up until 1981. They had cold water only... no hot... until 1978! We got to go into the has chamber, saw the gallows, dining room, library, cell blocks, exercise yard, etc.... The tour takes an hour. Only negative was our your guide. She talked way too fast and was hard to understand.

5. Rochelle Ranch Golf Course

2808 Rochelles Dr, Rawlins, WY 82301-5057 +1 307-324-7121 http://www.rochelleranch.com/
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4.5 based on 12 reviews

Rochelle Ranch Golf Course

6. Tully Park

W. Elm St and El Rancho Dr., Rawlins, WY http://www.rawlins-wyoming.com/index.aspx?NID=204
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3.5 based on 8 reviews

Tully Park

7. The Movies 3

1720 Edinburgh St, Rawlins, WY 82301-4508 +1 307-324-6624 http://rawlinsmovies.com/
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4.5 based on 4 reviews

8. Aspen Ally

Rawlins, WY
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4.0 based on 3 reviews

9. Memory Lanes

1917 W Spruce St, Rawlins, WY 82301-5123 +1 307-324-7467
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3.0 based on 2 reviews

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