Believe it or not, the Rockpile Museum is not just a museum full of rocks on display. Inside you will learn about the early history of Gillette through displays of firearms, antique toys, Indian arrowheads and much more. The museum also features traveling exhibits as an added bonus for history-lovers. Five miles north of Gillette is the Eagle Butte Coal Mine in all its glory. Admire the size of the machinery resting in the open pit at the public viewing area. If you are visiting in the summer, take a two-hour guided bus tour of this mine that produces around 40% of coal in the U.S. With a calendar full of year-round rodeo events, live concerts and Broadway productions, the CAM-PLEX is a hotspot for a great day or night out. If you want to stretch your legs and get outdoors, there is a 21-acre park to enjoy at your own pace. Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate Gillette’s proximity to the Bighorn Mountains. Lace up your boots and prepare for a day of recreational activities, including hunting and fishing. The more active traveler will definitely enjoy a climb up to the mountain’s summit, Cloud Peak.
If you still want more outdoor action, drive a few hours to neighboring South Dakota to the Black Hills National Forest. This forest extends 1.2 million acres with deep canyons, streams and lakes to explore without running into other outdoor travelers. Explore cosmic space in the comfort of gravity at the local high school’s auditorium at the Sage Valley Planetarium. The state-of-the-art projectors render the night sky with outlines that help distinguish all the planets and constellations. Check out the Planetariums calendar online for current shows.
Gillette is a city that offers an assortment of entertainment activities while keeping its city charm with the sounds of coal trails rolling on the tracks. Ease into this Wyoming city with overnight accommodations at one of the Gillette, Wyoming hotels listed above.