THE HISTORIC HYNDS BUILDING
The Inter Ocean Hotel
Long before the Hynds building stood at 1602 Capitol Avenue, this site was home to one of the most celebrated landmarks in early Wyoming history — the Inter Ocean Hotel.
Established during Cheyenne’s formative years in the late 19th century, the Inter Ocean Hotel quickly became a symbol of sophistication and progress in the developing West. As the Union Pacific Railroad transformed Cheyenne into a vital transportation hub, the hotel welcomed railroad executives, politicians, performers, and notable frontier figures. It was widely regarded as one of the finest hotels between Chicago and San Francisco, offering modern amenities and refined accommodations uncommon on the frontier.
More than a place to stay, the Inter Ocean served as a social and cultural center. It was a gathering place where business was conducted, milestones were celebrated, and the momentum of a growing city could be felt within its walls.
Though the original structure was ultimately lost to fire in the early 20th century — a fate shared by many grand Western buildings of its era — its legacy remains woven into the fabric of downtown Cheyenne.
Established during Cheyenne’s formative years in the late 19th century, the Inter Ocean Hotel quickly became a symbol of sophistication and progress in the developing West. As the Union Pacific Railroad transformed Cheyenne into a vital transportation hub, the hotel welcomed railroad executives, politicians, performers, and notable frontier figures. It was widely regarded as one of the finest hotels between Chicago and San Francisco, offering modern amenities and refined accommodations uncommon on the frontier.
More than a place to stay, the Inter Ocean served as a social and cultural center. It was a gathering place where business was conducted, milestones were celebrated, and the momentum of a growing city could be felt within its walls.
Though the original structure was ultimately lost to fire in the early 20th century — a fate shared by many grand Western buildings of its era — its legacy remains woven into the fabric of downtown Cheyenne.
The Hynds Building
Following the loss of the Inter Ocean Hotel in the early 20th century, the property at 1602 Capitol Avenue entered a new chapter. The Hynds building emerged during a period of rebuilding and stabilization in downtown Cheyenne — when brick replaced timber, permanence replaced improvisation, and Capitol Avenue was solidifying its identity as the city’s commercial spine.
Constructed in the early 1900s, the Hynds reflects the restrained commercial architectural style common to that era: durable brick masonry, tall street-facing windows designed to invite light and visibility, and a solid, balanced façade meant to communicate both reliability and civic pride. Buildings of this period were intentionally practical yet dignified — signaling that Cheyenne was no longer a temporary railroad town, but a maturing city investing in longevity.
Over the decades, the Hynds building has housed a variety of commercial enterprises, contributing to the steady rhythm of downtown life. Like many historic structures, it has adapted with the times — witnessing economic shifts, generational transitions, and the revitalization efforts that continue to shape Historic Downtown Cheyenne today.
Architecturally, the building’s scale and brickwork anchor Capitol Avenue with a sense of continuity. Its presence serves as a physical reminder of Cheyenne’s transition from frontier outpost to established civic center. While neighboring structures evolved or disappeared, the Hynds endured — a testament to early 20th-century craftsmanship and the value placed on building for the future.
Today, as home to Art at the Hynds, the building enters yet another meaningful era. Where commerce once defined the space, creativity now does. The adaptive reuse of the Hynds honors its original purpose as a gathering place — not merely for transactions, but for exchange: of ideas, culture, and community.
In stewarding this building in 2026, we recognize that we are part of a longer story — one rooted in resilience, reinvention, and the enduring importance of downtown Cheyenne.
Constructed in the early 1900s, the Hynds reflects the restrained commercial architectural style common to that era: durable brick masonry, tall street-facing windows designed to invite light and visibility, and a solid, balanced façade meant to communicate both reliability and civic pride. Buildings of this period were intentionally practical yet dignified — signaling that Cheyenne was no longer a temporary railroad town, but a maturing city investing in longevity.
Over the decades, the Hynds building has housed a variety of commercial enterprises, contributing to the steady rhythm of downtown life. Like many historic structures, it has adapted with the times — witnessing economic shifts, generational transitions, and the revitalization efforts that continue to shape Historic Downtown Cheyenne today.
Architecturally, the building’s scale and brickwork anchor Capitol Avenue with a sense of continuity. Its presence serves as a physical reminder of Cheyenne’s transition from frontier outpost to established civic center. While neighboring structures evolved or disappeared, the Hynds endured — a testament to early 20th-century craftsmanship and the value placed on building for the future.
Today, as home to Art at the Hynds, the building enters yet another meaningful era. Where commerce once defined the space, creativity now does. The adaptive reuse of the Hynds honors its original purpose as a gathering place — not merely for transactions, but for exchange: of ideas, culture, and community.
In stewarding this building in 2026, we recognize that we are part of a longer story — one rooted in resilience, reinvention, and the enduring importance of downtown Cheyenne.
