Historic Preservation Board releases 2023 Christmas ornament

Published on November 01, 2023

The Cheyenne Historic Preservation Board is proud to announce the release of the 2023 Christmas ornament featuring the dome of the Wyoming State Capitol.

This ornament is the fifth in a series of ornaments featuring historic structures in Cheyenne. Sales of the ornaments help fund historic preservation efforts in the city.

The gold leaf dome of the Capitol is a Wyoming icon. In fact, there are only 11 states, including Wyoming, that have gold leaf domes. For the first 12 years of its existence, the dome was copper colored with no gilding. The gold was added in 1900, and the dome has been re-gilded five additional times before the recent 2019 restoration. For that project, gilding required about seven ounces of 24 carat gold. Attached to each ornament is an actual flake of the gold leaf that at one time graced the Capitol dome.

Each of the ornaments is individually numbered and available at TownSquare Title (719 E. 17th St.), the Wyoming State Museum (2301 Central Ave.), the Cheyenne Depot Museum (121 W. 15th St.) and can be delivered in quantities of four or more by calling 307-851-1911. Supplies are limited.

The Cheyenne Historic Preservation Board hopes to continue the ornaments every year as a collectable item for the people of Cheyenne featuring a different historic building in town. Past ornaments include the Wyoming State Capitol building in 2019, the Union Pacific Depot in 2020, the Airport Fountain in 2021, and the Historic Governor’s Mansion in 2022.

For more information about the Cheyenne Historic Preservation Board, visit www.cheyennecity.org/CHPB.