The quaint little town of Centennial, on WYO 130, is the gateway to the beautiful Snowy Range Mountains. An area first visited by the nomadic Plains Indians (Shoshone, Arapaho, Sioux, Crow, and Cheyenne), Centennial was first lightly populated by settlers seeking timber on Centennial Mountain which rises above the town on the West. Ties were needed when the Transcontinental Railroad came through Laramie in 1868. The town's growth continued when the Homestead Act opened the lush Laramie River Valley to ranchers and got another boost with the discovery of gold on Centennial Mountain in 1875. In 1876 a post office was established and the town was named for the big event of the year, America's first centennial celebration. In 1877, the main gold vein ended at a fault line.
The other half of the vein has never been found, though the search goes on. In 2000, the Wyoming State Geological Survey announced a new gold sample had been found that gives new hope of the vein being found again. Remnants of the Utopia, the Queen Mine and several other mines still remain. By 1907, the town had established a bank (now a bed and breakfast), hotel (still in use), school and its own railroad spur. Today, Centennial is a popular visitor’s site having historic charm, fine dining, grand vistas and great recreation.
Take the RV and hit the open road in Wyoming knowing you can stop for the night and need not worry about a place to sleep. The shortest of Wyoming's Interstate Highways, I-90 cutting across the northeast corner of the state from Sundance to Sheridan, is also one of the most scenic routes. This highway rolls over the western edge of the Black Hills, passes near Sundance Mountain and then traverse the northern edge of the Powder River Basin before flanking the east face of the Bighorn Mountains. read more
With long stretches of open highway, traveling through Wyoming can lead you through some of the country’s most stunning vistas. Before you head out on the road, be sure to check weather conditions, emergency alerts and a map of the state’s major highways. read more
