The Keefe Cottages, nine residences built within the last decade of the 19th century, lie on the periphery of downtown Cheyenne. These row houses form a strong statement of brick in a neighborhood dominated by wood frame, and at first glance appear to be identical. However, upon further inspection, it can be discerned that there are four distinct variations on the original theme. The Keefe Cottages as a group are tied together by three strong common denominators--proximity, form, and material. The structures are placed in such a way that they dominate the immediate neighborhood. The form of each of the cottages is essentially rectangular. All are 1 1/2 stories with peaked gable roofs and frame porches. Exterior materials are predominately red brick and sandstone. The significance of these cottages relates to their architecture, architect, and contractor. The Keefe Cottages are architecturally unique to the city of Cheyenne. No where else in the city is there a row of houses so similar in nature and fabric that they may be visually grouped as a single unit. The architect of the structures was J. P. Julien, a resident of Cheyenne, who gained local notoriety through his work. M. P. Keefe, the contractor of Keefe Row and an associate of Julien, was widely acclaimed. He built the main portion of the state capitol building, most of the public schools of Cheyenne, several churches and banks, as well as half of Fort Russell.

The Kendrick Building was designed by William Dubois as a residence for Charles L. Beatty in 1916. Presently occupied by the Wyoming Arts Council, a State agency, the Kendrick Building is located within the complex of State office buildings surrounding the Wyoming State Capitol Building. Built after the State Capitol Building, it typifies Cheyenne's small-town ambiance, in which family life, government and business activity continue to flourish next door to each other. The building is significant because it embodies a distinctive style as designed by one of Wyoming's most important architects. It is also important because it represents one period of Cheyenne's development as a community.

The Lakeview Historic District is significant because it is a cohesive residential area representative of working class architecture found throughout historic Cheyenne. The earliest known structures in Lakeview date to about 1880. Development continued at a steadily increasing pace until about 1930. Construction then slowed, so that by the 1940s, only the occasional vacant lot was being developed. Lakeview is a neighborhood of modest homes originally occupied by railroad workers, clerks, and small business owners. As such, Lakeview is associated with the underlying growth of Cheyenne as a regional center and railroad town. Thus, the district complements its two neighbors, the Capitol North and Rainsford historic districts, both of which feature homes of wealthier ranchers, merchants, and politicians. Many of the same styles--Italianate, Queen Anne, American Foursquare, Bungalow, the revivals--are represented in Lakeview but as smaller, simpler examples.

Antiques Central is located at 2311 Reed Avenue in the northwest portion of the original plat of the City of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Cheyenne was basically created by the first transcontinental railroad, making it an important transportation center from its inception. Therefore, its commercial history was inextricably tied to the railroad. This building was constructed in 1922-1923 and was provided with a railroad siding that diverged north from the tracks that ran along Reed Avenue. This line was originally built to serve first Camp Carlin, an important nineteenth century military supply depot, then Fort D.A. Russell, and after 1887, points northward along what became the Cheyenne and Northern Railroad. The building represents early twentieth century factory/warehouse architecture and served first as the Laramie County Milk Producers Cooperative Association creamery and warehouse, and then as a warehouse after the creamery closed in 1940.

The Cheyenne Masonic Temple, first built in 1901, is a well-preserved example of the type of building placed in the State Capitol's structural landscape at the turn of the century. The impressive three-floor brick structure with Romanesque features is representative of the efforts of Cheyenne builders to reflect an image of prosperity through the built environment. The building embodies the distinctive characteristics of a method of construction employed during the early twentieth century in Wyoming. Although certain changes in design occurred during the reconstruction period of the building in 1903 following a fire, sufficient numbers of architectural elements were retained so that significant original design and feeling components continued to be recognizable. Occupants of the building, the Cheyenne Masons, have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of Wyoming's social welfare history and thus the building serves as an architectural association with that contribution. In addition, through the memberships of numerous state and federal governmental leaders in the Lodge, the building is associated with persons who have made an impact on Wyoming's history.

Cheyenne Winlectric is located at 1506 Thomes Avenue in the western portion of the original commercial district of the City of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Cheyenne had its origins as a railroad town created in 1867 by the construction of the first transcontinental railroad, making it an important transportation center from its inception. Therefore, its commercial history was inextricably tied to the railroad. The building was constructed in ca. 1914-1915 and was provided with its own railroad siding on the south side, which has been removed. The Colorado and Southern Railroad laid tracks along the north side of the building; these have also been removed. However, the Union Pacific Railroad freight yards are located nearby, so the building retains its physical association with the railroad. The building is a well-preserved example of early twentieth century factory/warehouse architecture which originally functioned as a warehouse for a wholesale grocery concern, the McCord-Brady Company. In 1932 the McCord-Brady Company sold its holdings to the Asher-Wyoming Company which advertised itself as ''Wyoming's Leading Wholesale Grocer'' and remained at this location until 1974.

The McDonald Ranch is located southwest of Chugwater on Chugwater Creek. The ranch complex contains seven buildings, six of which are considered to be contributing elements of the complex. These buildings include a large L-shaped ranch house dating from 1890 constructed of native stone covered with stucco. Two large wood frame barns with gambrel roofs were built in 1927 and another wood frame barn with gable roof was probably constructed at an earlier date. Other outlying buildings include the original hewn log homestead cabin built about 1881, an early 20th century frame garage, a frame bunkhouse covered with stucco, and the remains of two rock-lined root cellars dug into a hill near the ranch house. The McDonald Ranch is an important representative of the pioneer southeastern Wyoming cattle industry, not only because of its influence on the economic development of the Chugwater area, but also because it retains architectural features and spatial orientation which reflect late 19th-early 20th century ranching.

The Moore Haven Heights Historic District is eligible as a distinct and cohesive residential area integrally associated with and representative of the significant trends that contributed to the development of the City of Cheyenne from the early twentieth century through the late 1950s. As conceived and carried out, Moore Haven Heights represented an upscale residential district constructed with well-built brick homes of a certain value with similar architectural styles to present a homogeneous appearance. Strict covenants assured that substantial brick homes were built and lots were restricted to single-family dwellings with a garage. As a result, Moore Haven Heights became an established upper-middle class neighborhood.

The district is also nominated due to the remarkable physical integrity of the residences, which reflect the changes in popular architecture in America. From the Tudor brick in the 1920s and 1930s to the one-story Ranch homes built during the 1940s and 1950s. Thus, the predominant Tudor style homes of the 1920s and 1930s gave way to the new architecture, especially after World War II. Today, a drive through the neighborhood from south to north clearly reveals the difference in architecture, lot size, and landscaping.

The Moreton Frewen House was built in the early 1880s. The house is not especially significant for its architecture, exceptional material, or historic events. However, through its original owner and first tenant, Moreton Frewen, it stands as a symbol of a connection that once existed between two widely disparate historic movements. The first of these was a major era in the evolvement of modern Britain, and the second a phase of transition on the fast moving American frontier. Frewen was a wealth scion of British gentry. He was attracted by developments in the American west and eventually located a ranch near the present town of Kaycee, Wyoming. In the early 1880s he began to spend more and more time in Cheyenne in the promotion of various schemes to strengthen the cattle market. At this time he had constructed this small one story house and it remains one of the few surviving creations of Moreton Frewen.

The Mt. Sinai Synagogue in Cheyenne, Laramie County, Wyoming is locally significant under criterion C for architecture. This building meets the requirements of criteria consideration A as a unique local example of mid-century Modernism. Mt. Sinai Synagogue represents the need for the relatively small and isolated Jewish community within the city of Cheyenne to maintain its strong religious ties to one another and maintain their deeply held beliefs and traditions, and for its reflection of the history of the Jewish population in Cheyenne since the founding of the city through modern times. It’s also a significant local example of the Mid-Century Modern style of architecture. The building retains integrity of location, design, materials, feeling and association with its simple, clean lines, large, undecorated walls, flat roof, and horizontal window banding. Construction of the synagogue began in 1949, was halted for roughly a year, and a cornerstone dedicated in 1950 when construction began again. The building is still used by the Mt. Sinai congregation for their Jewish faith and traditions.

In 1886 Erasmus Nagle began construction of his home in Cheyenne. The Nagle Mansion is one of the best and last remaining examples of the opulence that was achieved by those who not only struck roots in Cheyenne in the 1870s and 1880s, but who were among the first to exploit the opportunities of the burgeoning economy on the frontier. Erasmus Nagle was one of the leading merchants of Cheyenne and the greater area of Wyoming territory, and is an example of the opportunistic businessman who worked during the heyday of the cattleman's frontier to achieve the power and prosperity that enabled him to build one of the town's finest mansions. Completed in the summer of 1888 at a cost of $50,000, the Nagle Mansion was an architectural showcase when opened to the public at a reception held on the evening of July 26, 1888. Built in the architectural style called Romanesque, the mansion is characterized by massive sandstone block walls and a steeply-gabled roof. Following Nagle's death, the property was purchased in 1915 by Francis E. Warren, a Wyoming territorial governor, the first state governor, and United States senator. Warren died in 1929 and his widow later sold the Warren Mansion to the Young Women's Christian Association.

Constructed between 1885 and the 1930s, the Rainsford neighborhood has its own unique history. Named for George Rainsford, an eastern architect who came west to try his hand at horse ranching in the 1870s and eventually designed homes for his contemporaries in Cheyenne, the neighborhood reflects his love for simplified traditional styles and varied roof shapes. Rainsford's designs were widely copied, borrowed from and expanded upon. A few of his houses still stand within the district, and a great many more reflect his influence. This area was once preferred by Cheyenne Cattle Barons, and represents the natural expansion of the city as it rapidly developed during the Cattle Boom. Rainsford District is an excellent expression of upper and upper middle class housing stock popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and its decline in bust years as larger lots were subdivided and sold for working class housing and multi-family apartment buildings. The homes, primarily of wood frame construction with some brick interspersed, range from single story bungalows and cottages to three story picturesque cottages. The Rainsford District is recognized for its association with locally and nationally significant individuals who laid the foundations for statehood; for its integrity as an historic neighborhood with uniform setbacks, plantings, slate sidewalks and unique character; and for its association with important factors such as the cash flow of the cattle era, the railroad tie to eastern markets, and the cultural and social aspirations of western businessmen which have made significant contributions to the broad patterns of Cheyenne and Wyoming history.

According to tradition the inspiration for the design of St. Mark's came from the Stoke Poges Church near London. This ancient church, dating from 1080 A. D., was made famous as the site where Thomas Gray wrote ''Elegy in a Country Church Yard.'' The architectural style of St. Mark's is Old English with pointed arches, massive buttresses, plain finishing and a high-pitched shingle roof. The architect was Henry M. Congdon of New York City. Construction was begun in 1886. The stone work was done by Mr. William Toorey and the interior woodworking was done by Mr. George East. The red lava stone was quarried at Castle Rock, Colorado. Only the addition of the bell tower in 1925 has altered the profile of the 1886 construction. The interior of St. Mark's contains the original altar, wooden fixtures, pews and open beams placed in the building in 1888.

Many memorable events have occurred in St. Mark's history through the years. In November of 1903 Cheyenne was alive with the Tom Horn affair. Accused of killing young Willie Nickell, Horn was tried by jury, found guilty and sentenced to be hung. St. Mark's assistant rector, the Rev. Mr. Watson, tried converting Tom Horn the night before his execution and the rector, the Rev. Mr. Rafter, prayed on the hanging platform right up until the time of Horn's death. A special service was held at St. Mark's for Tom Horn after his death. The funeral of the wife and three small daughters of General John J. Pershing took place at St. Mark's on August 31, 1915. Mrs. Pershing, daughter of Wyoming's United States Senator Francis E. Warren, along with three of her four children had met their death in a fire at the Presidio army post in California. October 11, 1936, was another noteworthy date at St. Mark's. That day President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor, entered the Church and quietly worshipped with the congregation. Roosevelt was in Cheyenne campaigning for his second term as President.

St. Mary's is a lofty, white sandstone English Gothic cathedral in the heart of Cheyenne. It was not until 1902, with the arrival of the third bishop of the Diocese of Cheyenne, James J. Keane, that progress was made toward the erection of a cathedral in the city which in 1890 has become the state capitol. The creation of Cheyenne Diocese had not been anticipated in the early days of Cheyenne settlement, and since the congregation, which was now known as St. Mary's had outgrown its modest brick church at 19th and Carey, Bishop Keane set himself to the task of erecting a suitable cathedral and bishop's residence. The site chosen for the new cathedral was on Capitol Avenue. On July 7, 1907 amid a throng of 5000 people, the cornerstone of the cathedral building was laid. On January 31, 1909 in a ceremony attended by the most impressive gathering of Catholic ecclesiastics held in Wyoming St. Mary's Cathedral was dedicated.

Certified Welding Corporation is located at 1122 West 23rd Street in an industrial area on the west side of the original commercial district of the City of Cheyenne, Wyoming. This property consists of two related buildings that were served by a railroad siding. Both buildings are well-preserved and rather unusual examples of early twentieth century brick masonry commercial/industrial architecture with their gable roofs and tall narrow design. The two buildings are significant because they represent the early twentieth century commercial activity in Cheyenne. Cheyenne had its origins as a railroad town created in 1867 by the construction of the first transcontinental railroad, making it an important transportation center from its inception. Therefore, its commercial history was inextricably tied to the railroad. These buildings were constructed in ca. 1915 and served as a wholesale bulk oil storage facility operated by the Texas Oil Company. Gas and oil were brought in by railroad cars, then unloaded and stored for local distribution. By 1960, the name of the corporation had changed to Texaco, Incorporated, and it is assumed that some of the products were distributed to local Texaco service station outlets. The Texas Oil Company continued to occupy this site as a wholesale distributor through 1979.

The Union Pacific Depot at Cheyenne is located at Fifteenth Street and Capitol Avenue and takes up more than a city block in area. As the headquarters for the Denver-Cheyenne-Ogden Division of the Union Pacific Railroad, it is the oldest of the Union Pacific properties in Cheyenne and probably the most impressive railroad building in all of Wyoming. Looking north from the depot on a line-of-sight axis is the spire of St. Mark's Episcopal Church and ten blocks from the depot along the same line is the Wyoming State Capitol Building. All three of the historic buildings were constructed at the same time, beginning in 1886. The Depot stands as a historic symbol of the growth of both the city of Cheyenne and the state of Wyoming. Not only is it representative of an earlier historic era, but it is in itself an example of a particular style of architecture developed by the outstanding American architect, H. H. Richardson.

The Van Tassell mansion, greenhouse and carriage barn, originally known as the Thomas residence, were designed by architect George D. Rainsford around 1886 and incorporated the best features of the Queen Anne style in the Late Victorian period. However, the only structure of the Thomas residence that remains is the carriage barn which, following demolition of the Thomas mansion, was moved to Holliday Park in Cheyenne about 1960 where it served as the home of the Cheyenne Artists' Guild. Between thirty and forty Wyoming structures were designed by George D. Rainsford, architect to cattle barons. The carriage barn is one of the last great carriage barns in Cheyenne. The particular love Rainsford had for horses is demonstrated by the workmanship displayed. The J. B. Thomas residence was acquired by Wyoming stockman and influential community leader, Robert S. Van Tassell in 1892.

The Whipple-Lacey House, constructed in 1883, is located three blocks east of the center of downtown Cheyenne. The house was built by I. C. Whipple, early Cheyenne banker, business entrepreneur, and stockman. Later it was the home of Judge John W. Lacey. The house was built of red brick and trimmed with cut stone in a style that has been called Modernized French Villa, however, Victorian and other styles are apparent. The significance of the house rests in its association with two of the most important pioneer figures in the history of southeastern Wyoming, Ithamar C. Whipple and John W. Lacey.

The Sturgis home, constructed in 1884, is significant because of its association both with its owner-builder, William Sturgis, and its architect, George D. Rainsford. Sturgis, one of Wyoming's early cattle barons, was deeply involved in the commercial development of Cheyenne. With his brother, Thomas, Sturgis was a founding member of the Wyoming Stock Growers' Association, an organization of great importance in the state's early history. George D. Rainsford, a rancher and architect, helped to introduce a variety of architectural styles to Wyoming. The Sturgis house is an extremely well-preserved example of Wyoming's adaptation of the shingle style, a symbol of the era of the cattle baron on the high plains.

The brick warehouse that currently houses the State of Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Maintenance, is located at 720 West 18th Street and is bordered on the west by a railroad line and spur. The property is on the west side of the original commercial district of the City of Cheyenne, Wyoming. It is significant because it represent the early twentieth century commercial activity in Cheyenne. It is also significant because it was designed by prominent Wyoming architect William Dubois and is the only known example of a Dubois-designed warehouse remaining in Cheyenne. Cheyenne had its origins as a railroad town created in 1867 by the construction of the first transcontinental railroad, making it an important transportation center from its inception. Therefore, its commercial history was inextricably tied to the railroad. The warehouse building was constructed in 1929. In 1937, the warehouse was extended on the north to its current dimensions, and William Dubois also designed the addition. It housed a variety of businesses, including the Wyoming Fuel and Feed Company, the Cheyenne Transfer and Storage Company, the Wyoming State Liquor Commission, and the Wyott Manufacturing Company, a wholesale restaurant supply firm.