Mt. Sinai Congregation, Wyoming's Oldest Synagogue
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Cheyenne is home to the oldest synagogue in Wyoming, the Mt. Sinai Congregation, a congregation that reflects a surprisingly deep Jewish history.
I would like to express my gratitude to Dave Lerner, President of Mt. Sinai Congregation in Cheyenne, Wyoming, for the information he provided about Mt. Sinai, as well as his guidance and support in the preparation of this article. All photos are courtesy of Mt. Sinai Congregation, Jason Bloomberg and Dave Lerner,
Social and Religious Life
Mt. Sinai holds services every Friday evening without fail, both in person and via Zoom. The congregation celebrates all Jewish holidays, offers classes, and hosts a wide range of social events. While smaller than it was in 1950—with about 50 member units—it warmly welcomes non-members and, in some cases, those who are not Jewish.
Shabbat Services: Services are held every Friday at 7 PM, with additional services on select Saturdays at 10 AM.
Adult Education: Classes are offered during Scholar-in-Residence weekends.
Torah Tuesday: Held Tuesdays at noon, participants are invited to bring lunch and join a discussion led by Jeff Weinstein.
Yiddish Food Festival and Kugel Cookoff: This lively event features klezmer music, traditional foods, synagogue tours, and a Sisterhood cookbook.
Jewish & Israeli Folk Dancing: Every Sunday at 3 PM, attendees gather to learn dances and connect with the community.
Hadassah Book Club: Meeting quarterly in Laramie, this group gathers both in person and via Zoom. Details are shared through the synagogue newsletter and calendar.
The Synagogue
Mt. Sinai Congregation houses seven Torah scrolls and features a rich and meaningful interior.
Stained Glass Windows: The main sanctuary includes a series of striking stained glass windows. The largest panel depicts a twelve-foot menorah, while additional windows portray scenes from Biblical history and the Twelve Tribes of Jacob.
Judaical Library: The synagogue maintains an extensive collection of Jewish books, tapes, CDs, and films, serving as an important educational resource for the community.
History
I would like to again thank Dave Lerner, President of Mt. Sinai Congregation, who graciously shared much of the congregation’s history with me. The story is truly fascinating.
The history of Jews in Cheyenne may be in part traced back to one General Grenville M. Dodge. Grenville Mellen Dodge was a Union Army general on the frontier, served in the Civil War as General Grant's intelligence Chief through the Vicksburg campaign.
After the war, Dodge found a pass for the Union Pacific Railroad, west of the Platte River. In May 1866, he resigned from the military and, with the endorsement of Generals Grant and Sherman, became the Union Pacific's chief engineer and thus a integral figure in the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad.
Grenville Dodge arrived in what is now Cheyenne on July 4, 1867. At the time, it was little more than flat plains with a few creeks running through it. As he planned the route of the transcontinental railroad, he determined that Cheyenne would be an ideal location for a work camp to build the section of track between Cheyenne and Laramie. He laid out streets and established a tent settlement.
By August 1, 600 people had arrived, Jews among them. A city was formally organized on August 4, and a mayor was elected the very next day. By September, tents were already being replaced with wooden buildings. Cheyenne grew so rapidly that it earned the nickname “Magic City of the Plains,” a title it still carries today.
Jewish people arrived in Cheyenne immediately following its founding in 1867, often arriving with the Union Pacific Railroad expansion. Many early Jewish settlers were immigrants from Germany who established businesses during the town's development in the late 1860s, contributing to a 140-year history in the region.
Many of the early Jewish settlers were migrants that helped establish the city’s early commercial life upon the railroad's arrival. In the late 1800s, there were two Jewish congregations in Cheyenne. In 1910, they merged to form Mt. Sinai. Thus, Cheyenne is home to the oldest synagogue in Wyoming, the Mt. Sinai Congregation.
That same year, Mt. Sinai built its first permanent building. Today, the synagogue maintains a safe deposit box containing newspaper clippings from the dedication of the original building in 1910. According to those accounts, both the governor and the mayor attended to welcome the new Jewish “church” which was located at 20th and Pioneer, on the site where the Laramie County Government Building now stands. A large plaque marks the location of the first synagogue in the state of Wyoming.
In 1949, synagogue leaders determined that a new building was needed. They purchased land a few blocks from the state capitol and began construction. During excavation, an underground river was discovered beneath the site. Architects were brought back to redesign the basement, ultimately incorporating a mikveh—a Jewish ritual bath containing natural water used for purification which is still in use today.
The new building opened in 1951 and continues to serve the community. It features two sanctuaries—one seating 450 people and a smaller one accommodating about 30—as well as a commercial-grade kitchen and a large social hall. The synagogue also houses an extensive Judaical library, in use for over 30 years and still growing, along with seven Torah scrolls.
A few years ago, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places as a notable example of mid-century modern architecture.
The congregation celebrated its centennial in 2010.
As mentioned, Cheyenne is home to Wyoming oldest synagogue. Mt. Sinai. A synagogue whose building is ornate, with stain glass windows and 7 Torahs. A synagogue rich in social activities, from shabbat services to a religious school to food festivals, book club, dancing and even offers a cookbook. A synagogue with a rich history dating back to post Civil War years.
Contact Information:
Mt. Sinai Congregation, 2610 Pioneer Avenue, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001
Phone: (307) 634 – 3052
Email: info@mtsinaicheyenne.org
Website: mtsinaicheyenne.org/
Follow me at: https://www.youtube.com/@JDRye195
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