Wyoming Sites

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) conducted improvement and repair work at the Sheridan County Courthouse in Sheridan, Wyoming. Cassity: "CWA painted the outside woodwork, the cornice, and the dome of the courthouse, and the workers also reworked the entire inside of the building."

The livestock pavilion at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds in Sheridan, Wyoming was constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The structure is located near the southern edge of the grounds, by Victoria Street.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) painted "grandstands, fences, and buildings" at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds in Sheridan, Wyoming.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built a state fishery: the Sheridan County Hatchery in Story, Wyoming.

In 1933, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) workers stationed in the Bridger-Teton National Forest constructed three new buildings for the Sherman Guard Station, including an office, garage/shop, and an outhouse. Originally used as a yearlong headquarters for the Sherman Ranger District, the ranger station became a seasonal work center by 1933. The site was used intermittently throughout the 20th century, and has most recently served as the staging area for fire crews fighting the Mule Forest Fire in 2002. Six buildings remain onsite at the Sherman Guard Station today, and all three of the buildings constructed by the CCC remain in use by...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) worked to construct / develop an airport in Saratoga, Wyoming, likely the airport now known as Shively Field.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed Sibley Lake Dam, located about 11.5 miles southwest of Dayton, Wyoming.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) developed a school skating pond in Superior, Wyoming in 1933/4. Cassity: "School life appears to have been significantly upgraded by the CWA workers at schools in the towns and countryside alike. ... Superior’s students got a skating pond courtesy of CWA workers."

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) worked to improve South Rim Drive in Yellowstone National Park, from Chittenden Bridge to Artist Point. Cassity: "Chittenden Bridge to Artist Point - The remnant of old road scars and road grades were sloped and regraded to the original ground forms. Trees and sage were planted to eliminate the scars."

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) and Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) constructed the first three miles of Spirit Mountain Road, west of Cody, Wyoming. Casper Star-Tribune: "Completion cf a three-mile road up the mountain that turns off the main highway about as many miles west of Cody will make this natural cavern easily accessible, and assurance is given that the work will be finished this year. Started and carried on first as a CWA project, it was continued last year under the ERA with good results, and when completed will stand an engineering achievement. Many difficulties were experienced on account of...

The Works Progress Administration built a community building in Spotted Horse, Campbell County, Wyoming.  

"However reluctant to see their state go on the federal dole, Cheyenne officials accepted, in June, 1933, Wyoming's first New Deal relief allotment. By December some 8000 Wyomingites were at work on jobs financed by the Civil Works Administration. A handful of these people -perhaps a half dozen -were part of the Public Works of Art Project (PWAP), working in Cheyenne. This federal agency lasted only about six months and its work in Wyoming was minimal; a mural in McCormick Junior High in Cheyenne, and some decorative work in the State Capitol Building, but the tasks were the first example...

The Wyoming State Supreme Court building is situated in central Cheyenne, the state capital. It is a restrained example of Art Deco architecture in the neo-classical mode, with elegant bas-relief decorations, inscriptions and brass (-plated?) doorways and surrounding decoration. It was built in 1937 with aid from the Public Works Administration (PWA) and is still in active use. "This structure is immediately opposite the present State Capitol Building and is an important unit of a well-developed plan for the State and municipal group, occupying a square which is landscaped and surrounded by streets.  The building is three stories in height and...

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed a fire lookout tower at Steamboat Point, which is located about 6.75 miles southwest of Dayton, Wyoming. Living New Deal believes the structure is no longer extant.

Multiple street improvement projects in Green River, Wyoming were undertaken with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The first P.W.A. grant-supported project was undertaken in 1936 to 1937, and the second in 1938 to 1939. (PWA Docket Nos. WY 1048, 1078)

A street improvement project in Rock Springs, Wyoming was undertaken with the aid of federal Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. The PWA supplied a $21,176 grant toward the $64,644 eventual total cost of the project. Work occurred between January and August 1937. (PWA Docket No. WY 1046)

A substantial street paving project in Sheridan, Wyoming was undertaken as a federal Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) project during the Great Depression. PWA Docket No. WY 1001

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) conducted improvement and repair work at the former Sweetwater County Courthouse in Green River, Wyoming. Cassity: "In Green River, CWA workers not only painted and renovated the exterior and interior but also the furniture and fixtures of the courthouse."

"Wyoming schools also benefited from the WPA Federal Art Project , which was responsible for a number of murals painted inside the buildings. Although the list of school murals is incomplete, it includes ... four panels in the Rock Springs High School library by Minerva Teichert of Cokeville ..." "The Rock Springs panels were removed from the Rock Springs High School and reinstalled in the Sweetwater County School District #1 Central Administration Building in Rock Springs."

Civil Works Administration projects sponsored by the Wyoming's state highway department included "the widening and backsloping of portions of the Telephone Canyon Road east of Laramie." I-80 approximately follows this route.

The Works Progress Administration built public tennis courts in Cokeville, Lincoln County. The exact location and condition of this facility is unknown to the Living New Deal.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) constructed a fish hatchery in Teton County, Wyoming. Casper Star-Tribune: "The Teton county hatchery was built by the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries, as a CWA project and will be in full operation this season. It will be of immense value in keeping the waters of the Jackson Hole region supplied, except Jackson lake, whose deep waters are the natural habitat of huge Mackinaws and Natives, the former weighing up to 36 pounds." The location and status of this project are unknown to Living New Deal.

The old Thermopolis City School was constructed during the 1930s with the assistance of funding from the federal Public Works Administration (PWA Docket No. WY 1058-DS). The school was located on Springview Street, between Big Horn and Mondell streets, and faced west. An auditorium/gymnasium extended eastward. Were it still standing, the building would occupy the space that is currently between the Hot Springs County School District and the Ralph Witters School. A new high school was constructed around the corner during the late 1950s (along Park St.); an even newer high school is located a few hundred feet further down the...

"Wyoming schools also benefited from the WPA Federal Art Project , which was responsible for a number of murals painted inside the buildings. Although the list of school murals is incomplete, it includes four panels in the Torrington High School auditorium executed by Ernest Stevens of Van Tassell ..." "The Torrington panels were removed from the old high school when it was sold by the district and were cleaned, restored and installed in the new high school building around 2005."

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) conducted improvement and repair work at the then-Town Hall in Mills, Wyoming. The location of the structure is unknown to Living New Deal. Cassity: "The CWA repaired and remodeled the city hall in Mills, reworking virtually everything from reshingling the roof to replastering the jail in the basement ..."

"Triangle Park, the three sided “square” in Kemmerer, got a heavy dose of fertilizer and horticultural attention," as the Civil Works Administration (CWA) worked to improve the park.

The Works Progress Administration constructed a university laboratory building in Centennial, Albany County. The camp had been founded near Mullen Creek in 1935 by a CCC camp (possibly F-36). The University of Wyoming later used the facility as a recreation camp. During WWII, the camp was used by the Army and Air Force. The facility has been demolished. The former location of this facility is unknown to the Living New Deal.

The Works Progress Administration built the university Main Hall east wing in Centennial, Albany County. The camp had been founded near Mullen Creek in 1935 by a CCC camp (possibly F-36). The University of Wyoming later used the facility as a recreation camp. During WWII, the camp was used by the Army and Air Force. The facility has been demolished. The former location and condition of this facility is unknown to the Living New Deal.

The Arts and Sciences Auditorium, originally known as the Liberal Arts Building, on the University of Wyoming campus in Laramie was constructed as a federal Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) project during the Great Depression. The P.W.A. provided a $213,700 loan and $100,600 grand toward the project, whose total cost was $366,755. Construction occurred between Feb. 1935 and Jun. 1936. PWA Docket No. WY 5152

The Works Progress Administration conducted work on women's dormitories at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. The structure was designed in Collegiate Gothic style by Wilbur Hitchcock. Today the building serves as Knight Hall and houses Student Services.

The Works Progress Administration built a reservoir in the vicinity of the University of Wyoming campus, near the University artesian well. The exact location and condition of this facility is unknown to the Living New Deal.

The Wyoming Union building on the University of Wyoming campus in Laramie was constructed as a federal Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) project during the Great Depression. The P.W.A. provided a $128,250 grant toward the project, whose total cost was $295,955. Construction occurred between Nov. 1937 and Feb. 1939. PWA Docket No. WY 1059-DS

The Wyoming Union building on the University of Wyoming campus in Laramie houses a striking example of New Deal artwork created by Lynn Faucett for the then-recently completed building. "Among the last of the WPA murals done in Wyoming, and one that is still in place, is the seven by twenty-eight foot panel on the east wall of the University Student Union in Laramie. It depicts the "western welcome" arranged by students and faculty for incoming University President A. G. Crane in 1922. In a mock hold-up and kidnapping, students in cowboy regalia intercepted Crane's automobile outside Laramie, ushered the...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) began and the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) completed improvement work at the former Wardwell Field airport. The airport, which was six miles north of Casper, is no longer extant; the former airport property is now the site of the town of Bar Nunn. Casper Star-Tribune: "The largest of all work relief projects was the new airport and runways at Wardwell field, completed at a cost of $93,357, itemized as follows: CWA, $46,809; ERA, $12,710; county, $33,838. Wardwell field six miles north on the Salt Creek highway ... The project included construction of an ample,...

Washakie County's Courthouse and Jail in Worland, Wyoming was constructed with the assistance of federal Public Works Administration funds (PWA Docket No. WY 1006-D). The PWA contributed $51,750 in grant money for the $129,657 project. Construction began November 14, 1936 and the building was completed Nov. 4, 1937. The building was designed by J. G. Link of Billings.

The Works Progress Administration built a city park in Buffalo, Johnson County, Wyoming. Today the park is stil in operation under the name Washington Memorial Park.

The Works Progress Administration built a municipal pool in Buffalo, Johnson County. Today the pool is still in service under the name Washington Memorial Park Swimming Pool. Living New Deal believes the pool was constructed in conjunction with WPA work undertaken at the City Park.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) expanded Washington Park in Laramie, Wyoming.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) developed Washington Memorial Park in Guernsey, Wyoming. "In Guernsey, Washington Memorial Park was fenced, graded and given sidewalks and water mains." There does not presently appear to be a park by this name in Guernsey; the site and status of this project is presently unknown to Living New Deal.

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) constructed what was then known as the V.F.W. Pool at George Washington Park in Casper, Wyoming, in 1934. Work relief labor conducted additional development work at Washington Park. Casper Star-Tribune, March 3, 1935, discussing work relief projects from 1934: "Within the park is the Veterans of Foreign Wars' swimming pool and dressing-room building, the latter requiring an outlay of $15,978 last year." The status of the facility is unknown to Living New Deal.