About this city
Also known as: Fossil Capital of the World
Kemmerer is a historic frontier town positioned high on the rolling sagebrush plains of southwestern Wyoming in Lincoln County. Established in 1897 as a company town backed by coal mining wealth, it famously boasts a unique commercial legacy as the birthplace of the retail empire J.C. Penney, whose original 1902 store still stands. Today, Kemmerer is recognized internationally by paleontologists and rock hounds as the central hub for exploring the Fossil Butte National Monument, home to some of the world's most perfectly preserved freshwater fossils.
Location & Administrative
Transportation & Accessibility
Weather & Timing
Economics & Local Vibe
Practical Tourism Metadata
Suggested stay: 1–2 days
Dig for real prehistoric fish fossils at nearby private pay-to-dig quarries, view world-class specimens at Fossil Butte National Monument, and visit the historic J.C. Penney Mother Store and Homestead on the triangle plaza.
