Why is There a Pyramid in Wyoming?

Pyramids are some of the world's oldest monumental structures, and while a majority of these remaining landmarks are only found Egypt, there's actually one in the United States, and it's super close to Colorado. But why is it there?

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Wyoming is just so beautiful #wyoming #vedauwoo #amesbrothers #monument #laramie #sherman #statepark

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In the mid-1800s, brothers, Oliver and Oakes Ames were a big deal within the locomotive industry. They're credited for completing the United States' First Transcontinental Railroad and Oliver also became president of the Union Pacific Railroad. Unfortunately for Oakes, his glory as president didn't last long, as he became involved in a fraud scheme, which was connected to financing the railroad. Therefore, he was forced to resign as head honcho.

In an attempt to save face for the Ames name, the brothers hired a famous architect to build a monument that marked the highest point of the Transcontinental Railroad, at 8,247 feet. Henry Hobson Richardson designed and built the structure, named the Ames Brothers Pyramid, which is still standing today about 20 miles east of Laramie, Wyoming. A small town was then built around the pyramid, in hopes that passengers would come check out the monument while they waited in town for their trains to charge. But, more bad luck ensued for the brothers, when the railroad was rerouted, and travelers no longer passed through the town.

 

 

 

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Designed by Henry Hobson Richardson and built in 1882, the Ames Monument is a locally-sourced 60 foot high granite pyramid. Located east of Laramie, Wyoming, it is perhaps the windiest spot in the US. Dedicated to the #amesbrothers who shepherded the completion of the #transcontinentalrailroad at the request of Abraham Lincoln. #laramiewyoming #interstate80 #windy #granitemonuments #travelsacrossthewest #geologyinaction

 

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Okay, so it's not exactly the same type of pyramid that can be found in Egypt, but the four-sided Ames Monument is constructed from granite, and reaches 60 feet into the sky. At one time, the pyramid also featured an interior passage, however it's since been sealed closed. On the exterior, there are two carvings of the Ames brothers.

Nowadays, the structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is maintained as a Wyoming state historic site. Visitors can still stop by year-round to the desolate location and get a glimpse of the past.