Laramie Plains Civic Center, arts center in Laramie, Wyoming, United States
The Laramie Plains Civic Center is a historic school building from 1878 that occupies an entire city block. Originally known as East Side School and built as the state's first brick school, it was later expanded with major additions and now houses over 40 different groups and organizations.
The building was constructed in 1878 as the state's first brick school during the railroad expansion era. It served as a school for nearly a century, then as a junior high until 1979, before beginning its current life as a community center and being added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
The building carries artistic traces from its past into the present. Murals painted in 1929 depicting Wyoming history still adorn the Gryphon Theatre, while today over 35 artists rent studios here to create and display their work.
The complex offers diverse spaces including two gymnasiums, a theater, and over 35 artist studios open to visitors. Expect original school features such as preserved doors and flooring to mix with modern event spaces, though the third floor is currently inaccessible.
Beneath the theater sits an empty concrete pool built in 1926 that was intentionally never filled with water because it sits below the water table. On the roof, visitors can discover old markings from a Union Wireless tower dating back decades.
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