Laramie Plains Civic Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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East Side School
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Laramie Plains Civic Center in 2014
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 Location in Wyoming
Location in the United States
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| Location | 710 East Garfield St., Laramie, Wyoming |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1878 |
| Architect | Peter Hanson |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000610 |
| Added to NRHP | March 17, 1981 |
The Laramie Plains Civic Center is a cool community hub in Laramie, Wyoming. It opened in 1982 inside the historic East Side School building. The oldest part of this building was constructed way back in 1878. This makes it the oldest public school building in all of Wyoming!
The school grew with additions in 1928 and 1939. It finally closed its doors as a school in 1979. Today, the civic center is a busy place. It offers spaces for art shows, performances, and even small businesses. It's a great spot for visual and performing arts.
A Look Back: The School's Journey
The East Side School first opened as a high school in 1878. It was the very first building in Wyoming built just for a school! The start of its construction was a big public event for the town.
The school building was made larger in 1928 and again in 1939. Later, when a new high school was built, East Side School became a junior high. It served students for many years before closing in 1978. Soon after, plans began to turn the old school into a community center. This new center officially opened its doors in 1982.
Exploring the Building's Design
The original school building from 1878 was made of brick. It had an "Italianate" style, which means it looked a bit like old Italian buildings. It featured four classrooms on the main floor and two upstairs. It even looked a little like Laramie's first courthouse!
A big expansion happened in 1928. Architect Wilbur Hitchcock designed this part. He used a "stripped-down Gothic" style. This means it had some pointed arch shapes, often seen in Gothic buildings, but in a simpler way. This addition brought more classrooms, an auditorium, and a gymnasium.
The auditorium was especially fancy! It had huge oil-on-canvas paintings, about 19 feet (5.8 meters) tall. These amazing murals showed scenes from Wyoming's history. A talented artist named Florence Ware painted them. Her father, Walter E. Ware, helped with the design. He took over the architectural work after Mr. Hitchcock sadly passed away in a car accident.
A Special Historic Place
The East Side School was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 17, 1981. This important step happened as the building was changing from a school to the Laramie Plains Civic Center. Being on this register means the building is recognized as a special part of history. It helps protect it for future generations.
