A Presidential Stop Along I-80: The Lincoln Memorial Monument in Wyoming

If you’re traveling across Wyoming on Interstate 80, there’s a larger-than-life piece of history waiting for you high above the highway. At the Summit Rest Area between Cheyenne and Laramie, you’ll find the impressive Abraham Lincoln Memorial Monument—a giant bronze bust of our nation’s 16th president overlooking the Wyoming landscape.

Created by University of Wyoming art professor Robert Russin, the monument was dedicated in 1959 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. The sculpture originally stood along the historic Lincoln Highway before being moved to its present location when Interstate 80 was constructed.

But this stop is about more than just a giant statue of Lincoln. You are standing in a place connected to one of America’s most important transportation stories.

The Lincoln Highway, established in 1913, was the first transcontinental automobile highway in the United States. It stretched from New York City to San Francisco and crossed Wyoming along the southern part of the state. Before modern interstate highways, traveling across Wyoming could mean dirt roads, mud, snow, steep grades, and plenty of adventure. Today, portions of the historic route can still be explored, particularly along old U.S. 30.

Travel Tips

📍 Make the Stop: The Lincoln Monument is located at the Summit Rest Area at I-80 Exit 323, between Cheyenne and Laramie. It’s an easy place to stretch your legs and learn a little Wyoming history.

📸 Bring Your Camera: The massive Lincoln sculpture makes a memorable photograph, especially with Wyoming’s wide-open landscape in the background.

🥾 Take Your Time: Don’t simply stop for a restroom break. Walk around the monument and look for the historical markers, including the nearby Henry Joy Monument and Lincoln Highway markers.

❄️ Watch the Weather: The summit sits at a high elevation, and Wyoming weather can change quickly. Winter conditions can be especially challenging along this stretch of I-80, so check road and weather conditions before traveling.

🛣️ Explore the Old Lincoln Highway: If you have extra time, consider leaving I-80 and following portions of historic U.S. 30. The route between Laramie and Medicine Bow offers an especially interesting look at Wyoming’s Lincoln Highway history.

Sometimes the best travel memories come from the places you almost drive past. So the next time you’re crossing Wyoming on I-80, take a few minutes to stop, stretch your legs, look out across the mountains, and stand beneath the watchful gaze of Abraham Lincoln.

Let Wild West Curations help you discover the history, scenery, and hidden gems that make a Wyoming road trip truly unforgettable—one journey at a time.

*Photos taken and owned by Becky Taylor