The Alliance for Historic Wyoming Watch List brings statewide attention to historic properties in
Wyoming that are currently threatened with demolition or neglect. Properties listed on the
Watch List are significant to Wyoming at the local or state level and have local support for their preservation.
Significance and Threat
Threatened by neglect and a lack of purpose for the space. Significant work will need to be done in order to make this building eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Currently, it is ineligible due to additions and renovations to the original building.
History
In 1890, Cheyenne was a fast-growing town that aspired to provide the most consistent water access to their residents. The town planned to locate a new pumphouse, to accommodate the growing water pressure needs of the community, on a block of land they recently purchased from the Union Pacific Railroad. The design of the building drew inspiration from the Cheyenne Depot which is located about half a mile away to the northeast.
The pumphouse was completed in July of 1892, and served the City until the 1920s when Round Top reservoir was updated to accommodate the water pressure needs of Cheyenne. The building was then repurposed for other city departments as storage. Later modifications, such as and addition of a second story on the north wing and a steel-framed shop space on the southwest side, have made the Cheyenne Pumphouse ineligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today the building stands in disrepair and neglect after over a century of use, adaptations, and neglect. The City council has the building listed as one of the top 2024 Priorities, with tasks including securing the structure to prevent further deterioration, and identifying a potential tenant for the space. The Cheyenne Pumphouse not only exemplifies the Richardson Romanesque architecture style found throughout Cheyenne, but also how the development of infrastructure impacted communities’ ability to thrive across Wyoming.
Contact Information and Call to Action
Local contact: Pete Laybourn, City Council project Champion
Support the Alliance
You can help the Alliance for Historic Wyoming in our efforts to preserve historic places and spaces across the state of Wyoming with advocacy, awareness, and action. The Watch List is meant to bring attention to historic locations in danger, and work is necessary to attempt to save them.
Subscribe to our Newsletter to keep track of advocacy alerts and other ways you can help in our mission, and please consider donating so we can continue this work. You can also become a member or volunteer to get involved in historic preservation of Wyoming’s buildings and sites that connect us to the past.
