Serving as the seat of Carbon County, Rawlins lies along the route that connects Cheyenne with Salt Lake City. It is named after the Union Army general John Aaron Rawlins and is notable as the source of a red pigment known as “Rawlins Red”. With its anti-rust properties, the pigment is believed to have been used to paint the Brooklyn Bridge.
Things to do in Rawlins
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places is the Wyoming Frontier Prison, which housed some of Wyoming’s most notorious inmates between 1901 and 1981. On a guided tour of its cell blocks, cafeteria and grounds, you can learn about the train robbers and outlaws who were incarcerated here before browsing the confiscated weapons on display.
Nearby is the Carbon County Museum, which houses more than 30,000 artefacts and documents across its three gallery spaces. Get up close to the original Wyoming State Flag and learn about the role of the Union Pacific in the development of the city. Objects from Abraham Lincoln’s funerary procession are on display in the Military Gallery, while a vintage racing car and sheep wagon are exhibited in The Garage.
On the eastern outskirts of Rawlins is the 18-hole Rochelle Ranch Golf Course, which is one of the longest golf courses in Wyoming. Named after a local sheep ranching couple, it is particularly notable for its windy conditions, making it a challenge for even the most seasoned players.
Getting around Rawlins
Rawlins is around 1.5 hours’ drive from Laramie Regional Airport, which has regular flights to Denver. By road, Denver International Airport is just under four hours away. Long-distance buses connect to Rawlins while renting a car is the most convenient way of getting around the area.