5 Famous People from Wyoming
Wyoming is the least populous state in the Union, but some people do live here. And others were even born here. Yes, really. Here’s a list of famous people from Wyoming. (In this case, from either means they were born here or spent a great deal of their lives here.) If you’re interested in a list of famous people who still live in Wyoming, check out this post.
Jedediah Smith (1799-1831)
Jedediah Smith was an American frontiersman, explorer, and fur trapper whose expeditions through the state were vital in mapping the American West and establishing the fur trade in the region. His travels also helped open up key routes through Wyoming, making it a gateway for westward expansion. If you ever died of dysentery in the old PC game Oregon Trail, blame him.
Buffalo Bill Cody (1846-1917)
The city of Cody, Wyoming, gets its name from William “Buffalo Bill” Cody, one of the names forever synonymous with the American West. As a former Union soldier, bison hunter, scout, and showman, his legendary Wild West shows helped shape the world’s perception of the West—both then and now. He also had great hair. Go ahead, look up a picture.
Calamity Jane (1852-1903)
Calamity Jane, like most people with a cool name, was born with a humbler one. Martha Jane Canary became a legendary frontierswoman known for her adventurous spirit, sharpshooting skills, and larger-than-life persona. She also worked as a scout, stagecoach driver, and caregiver, while her kindness and tall tales contributed to her enduring legacy in Wild West folklore.
Nellie Tayloe Ross (1876-1977)
Before we researched this post, we hadn’t heard of Nellie Tayloe Ross, but we should have. Her husband was governor; when he died in office, her party nominated her. She won and served a second term as well, becoming the first female governor in the United States. She later became the first female director of the U.S. Mint, serving under multiple presidents. She lived to the ripe age of 101.
Dick Cheney (1941-)
A native of Casper, Wyoming, Dick Cheney was the 46th Vice President of the United States from 2001 to 2009 under President George W. Bush. He also held key positions, including Secretary of Defense during the Gulf War and White House Chief of Staff. He was played by Christian Bale in the movie Vice, and once this writer ran into his parked Black Hawk helicopter while fishing on the Snake River.
Jackson Pollock (1912-1956)
Jackson Pollock’s abstract expressionist art revolutionized the art world and gave millions of people a reason to go to art museums and skeptically think, “Yeah, I could have done that.” His drip-painting technique defied conventions and earned him a place among the most influential American artists of the 20th century.
Photo credit: Drawing of Jedediah Smith (1799–1831), created around 1835 after his death by a friend from memory.
You don’t have to be famous to stay at Flat Creek Inn, Jackson Hole’s closest lodgings to Grand Teton National Park.
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Ryan Kunz is a copywriter and freelance writer who writes on a variety of topics, including media, the outdoors, and whatever else strikes his fancy. He is neither famous nor from Wyoming.
