Sheridan Is a Walkable Town in Wyoming Known for Its Massive Art Sculptures

If you've ever spent time in a major U.S. city that embraces the arts, you've likely seen a few splashy murals lining its alleyways. Dig even deeper into these cities and you'll no doubt find some landmark graffiti as well, often serving as a backdrop to Thursday art walks and regular street art fairs that celebrate the city's most creative residents. Seattle, L.A., Chicago—numerous cities around the country are known art meccas, with their colorful, ever-changing installations and iconic sculptures seemingly woven into the very fabric of their identity.

Then, there's small-town art, which I think is an underrated treasure trove of rural Americana.

When I'm not out climbing mountains, photographing wildlife, or perusing exhibits at a local museum, I absolutely love exploring small towns with my camera in hand—particularly here in Wyoming. It's almost guaranteed that I'll stumble upon a larger-than-life stagecoach mural covering the wall of a repurposed bank building or a patchy red and white Coca-Cola sign, quietly fading and chipping off an old brick storefront.

While Wyoming isn't often recognized for its modern arts scene, those who live here know that when you live in the most ruggedly beautiful state in the country, "cowboy art" (poetry, photography, and the like) is a natural outcome. Those Teton sunsets can coax a pretty stanza or two out of just about anyone, it seems.

With a population that hovers around 19,000 to 20,000 residents, Sheridan may not be considered a small town by Wyoming standards, but its setting at the foot of the Bighorns places it in the perfect spot for local artists to garner inspiration from nature. However, rather than painted utility boxes or large-scale murals (although it has its fair share of those too), Sheridan is known for the over 100 public art sculptures that are scattered throughout downtown.

Sheridan's "Sculpture Walk" is an unexpected artistic treat in this rustic Northern Wyoming town. The collection started humbly in 2001 when the local public arts committee began accepting ideas for a small series of statues in and around Grinnell Park. After the initial installation (eight pieces total), the project continued to grow.

Today, Sheridan is home to around 100 permanent sculptures made of bronze, copper, and a myriad of other materials, as well as a few dozen ever-changing and borrowed sculptures from artists around the country. Many of the pieces on display stand over six feet tall and feature traditional Wyoming and Native American themes like wildlife, bronc riding, and music, while others are more conceptual.

Take a stroll down just about any street and you'll find larger-than-life sculptures that range from the whimsical, kid-favorite Egghead sitting on a park bench (Kimber Fiebiger) to the seriously cool Let's Play (Deveren Farley) made of license plates and hardware to the stunning and superbly detailed An Honored Life bronze statue (Barry Eisenach) on Main Street.

Abstract art enthusiasts can also mull over unique pieces like Contemplation (Dennis Sohocki), Campana (Joe Allred), and Sail Tree (Eric Nelson), just to name a few.

Even better, if you're looking to splurge on the perfect talking piece to add to your own personal art collection, all on-loan public sculptures are available for purchase.

The Sheridan Public Arts Committee has a map of sculpture locations, as well as more info about each artist, sculpture materials, and more. But don't wait too long to do the entire Sculpture Walk—with the collection always on rotation, your favorite might not be there the next time you stroll through town.

While you're out and about, Sheridan is a pretty fun town to explore even beyond its public art, and there are plenty of reasons to spend a few days here. On your next visit, be sure to check out a few of the numerous trails in the nearby Bighorn National Forest, the Museum of the Bighorns, and the historic King’s Saddlery. There’s a lot to (re)discover in this Western town! Or, for more glimpses into the Cowboy State's creative side, Jackson has consistently earned national recognition for its modern art fairs, shops, and museums.

If Sheridan is calling your name, it’s easy to fold it into a wider Wyoming road trip and take in what else the region has to offer along the way. To help shape your route, check out Only In Your State's itinerary planner, and if you’ve come across a place that deserves a spot on the map, share it with us through our nomination form.