Laramie Plains Museum — Attraction in Laramie

Today’s visit to the Laramie Plains Museum, also known as the Ivinson Mansion, was hands-down a most memorable and delightful experience! This beautifully preserved Victorian home is a true treasure, full of rich history and absolutely gorgeous period furnishings. Every room is like a perfectly curated time capsule—warm, elegant, and brimming with character.

But what made the tour truly exceptional was our phenomenal guide, Bailey. Although still considered a “junior docent” Bailey was beyond impressive—confident, knowledgeable, and incredibly well-spoken. She guided us through the mansion with ease and enthusiasm, a great sense of humor, sharing historical insights, fascinating stories, and small details that brought the home and its former inhabitants vividly to life. Her passion for history was awesome!

From the intricate woodwork and ornate décor to the personal artifacts and clothing displays, every part of the Ivinson Mansion felt alive with stories of the past. It’s clear that the museum is lovingly cared for by people who truly value its legacy—and Bailey is a shining example of that dedication.

Whether you’re a history buff or simply curious, this museum is an absolute must-see. We left feeling inspired, informed, and truly grateful for the experience. Thank you, Bailey, for an unforgettable tour! You are a star in the making.

Do yourself a favor—visit the Laramie Plains Museum. You...

The Laramie Plains Museum at Ivinson Mansion is a lovely, 19th century house that's been carefully restored to reflect the height of its Victorian-era opulence. The docents and curator are knowledgeable and guide the visitors through the museum in a way that tells a story, beginning on the ground floor with the Ivinsons' births, arrival in America, and relocation to the West and following their lives as Laramie, and the Wyoming Territory, developed. The tour lasts approximately an hour and the docent has a prepared interpretation for each room. After they finish discussing the room and a few highlights from the artifacts within it, they pause to see if anyone has any questions so that people can get answers about anything in the space about which they wish to know more. They point out items specific to the Ivinsons as well as those from Laramie (or elsewhere in Wyoming), but everything in the living spaces is carefully chosen to reflect a standard of living in the late Victorian/Edwardian age. The third floor serves as a museum for Laramie, with examples of different ranching tools, Native American artifacts, and items from the Union Pacific Railroad. Well-worth taking the time to visit on...

I am going to be honest, I am conflicted on this one.

The Iverson house was incredible. It is so well-preserved that it genuinely looks like they lived there yesterday. Not a spec of dust or signs of damage. Even the props/artifacts were in pristine condition for being well over 100 years old.

However, most of my complaints will fall on the tour guide. He was definitely on the shy side, and that's fine not everyone can be an exceptional public speaker. But this shyness also bled into his inability to recall sufficient information for a guided tour that you have to pay money for. The tour also really fell off the rails at the end there, and really just became a "go do what you want" thing.

I don't want to nitpick on this detail too much, but a tour guide wearing gym shorts does not strike me as being very professional at all, and can come across as immersion-breaking. I'm not expecting business formal in a suit and tie, especially in the Summer heat, but I do think that some jeans, cargo shorts, or something would be a touch more appropriate.

Overall the house was excellent, but the tour does need some deep...