Cheyenne WY Homes and Historic Military Base

Warren AFB

The heritage of the proud citizens of Cheyenne, Wyoming homes and neighborhoods is inextricably entwined with the F. E. Warren Air Force Base on the west side of Cheyenne WY real estate.  The base and the city grew up together.  In fact, it was President Abraham Lincoln and Congress who realized that the new mountain-region headquarters for Union Pacific's transcontinental route would need some important protection.  Railroad employees and U.S. Cavalry arrived on July 4, 1867 in what was then called Crow Creek Crossing.

The first real estate in Cheyenne offered a village of tents, followed by wood-frame quarters that were laid out in the shape of a diamond to protect against the winter winds.  Trees were planted as an additional windbreak, gradually maturing to add shelter.

Along the banks of the South Platte River near today's western Cheyenne neighborhoods, Fort D. A. Russell was built and named in honor of General David A. Russell, a Civil War Brigadier.  Its troops dealt not only with extreme weather but with Indian invasions during warmer months, eventually joining Lt. Col. Custer in the Great Sioux Indian Wars.  By 1884, permanent red-brick buildings served eight infantry companies and their 20,000 horses and mule, expanding to more than 220 buildings by 1930. The core of the military base retains lasting architectural integrity and is designated a National Historic Landmark.  The buildings are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Stories about generations of noble soldiers stationed at the famous base abound.  Buffalo Soldiers (dark skinned troops named by Native Americans after their spiritual buffalo) served here as did the 8th Infantry sent to Cuba, the Wyoming National Guard that landed in the Philippines, and battalions that went south for the Mexican Revolution (1913-1916).  During World War I, this was one of the largest military posts in the nation.

It was President Hoover who issued a proclamation changing the names of the post to Fort Francis E. Warren in honor of the territorial and state governor, U.S. Senator, and a 19-year-old recipient of the Medal of Honor during the Civil War.

Then during World War II, up to 20,000 Quartermaster Corps trained here, most living in quickly assembled rudimentary structures.  In 1947, the installation officially became an Air Force Base, although it only offered one dirt strip!  In modern times, the base became the first fully operational missile wing, housing the intercontinental Ballistic Missile squadron, Minuteman missiles, and the Peacekeeper missile.  It became an Air Force Space Command in the early 1990s.

At the forefront of national defense, Warren has been protecting the American way of life for over 140 years.  Our community is honored to be serving side by side in these efforts.

For information about modern real estate available in the area, please contact us or visit the property search section on our website.