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Cheyenne Depot Museum Inc

EIN 47-0860675 · Cheyenne, WY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair57 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 129 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO CELEBRATE THE SPIRIT, TEAMWORK, OPTIMISM, AND SACRIFICES OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO BUILT AND ARE THE LIFE OF THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD, THE CHEYENNE DEPOT, AND THE CITY OF CHEYENNE.

Income
$645,447
Spending
$683,817
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
9.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 63%
Employees
22
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$81,576, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 129 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $310,468 spent. NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK: BUILT IN 1886-1887, THE UNION PACIFIC DEPOT IS A NATIONALLY PROMINENT LANDMARK THAT DERIVES ITS SIGNIFICANCE FROM TWO PRINCIPAL AREAS: TRANSPORTATION AND ARCHITECTURE. THE DEPOT IS THE LAST OF THE GRANT 19TH CENTURY DEPOTS REMAINING ON THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD - ONE OF THE BEST ARTICULATED EXAMPLES OF THE RICHARDSONIAN ROMANESQUE STYLE IN THE WEST, DESIGNED BY HENRY VAN BRUNT, ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST DISTINGUISHED ARCHITECTS AT A PIVOTAL POINT IN HIS PRACTICE. IT FORMED A STRATEGIC POINT ALONG THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD, AMERICA'S FIRST TRANSCONTINENTAL RAIL LINE, AND WAS EASILY THE UNION PACIFIC'S MOST GRANDIOSE FACILITY WEST OF ITS STARTING POINT AT COUNCIL BLUFFS. MAINTAINING A HISTORICAL BUILDING IS AN INCREDIBLE CHALLENGE, BUT AS THE STEWARD OF THE BUILDING, THE CHEYENNE DEPOT MUSEUM WORKS TO PRESERVE THE PAST FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. PROTECTING THIS BUILDING AND ENSURING THAT ITS STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS ARE MAINTAINED IN THEIR ORIGINAL STYLE IS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE. THE DEPOT BUILDING IS OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK, EXCLUDING MAJOR HOLIDAYS. THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT PASS THROUGH THE BULIDING EVERY YEAR IS 55,000. NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK: BUILT IN 1886-1887, THE UNION PACIFIC DEPOT IS A NATIONALLY PROMINENT LANDMARK THAT DERIVES ITS SIGNIFICANCE FROM TWO PRINCIPAL AREAS: TRANSPORTATION AND ARCHITECTURE. THE DEPOT IS THE LAST OF THE GRANT 19TH CENTURY DEPOTS REMAINING ON THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD - ONE OF THE BEST ARTICULATED EXAMPLES OF THE RICHARDSONIAN ROMANESQUE STYLE IN THE WEST, DESIGNED BY HENRY VAN BRUNT, ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST DISTINGUISHED ARCHITECTS AT A PIVOTAL POINT IN HIS PRACTICE. IT FORMED A STRATEGIC POINT ALONG THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD, AMERICA'S FIRST TRANSCONTINENTAL RAIL LINE, AND WAS EASILY THE UNION PACIFIC'S MOST GRANDIOSE FACILITY WEST OF ITS STARTING POINT AT COUNCIL BLUFFS. MAINTAINING A HISTORICAL BUILDING IS AN INCREDIBLE CHALLENGE, BUT AS THE STEWARD OF THE BUILDING, THE CHEYENNE DEPOT MUSEUM WORKS TO PRESERVE THE PAST FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. PROTECTING THIS BUILDING AND ENSURING THAT ITS STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS ARE MAINTAINED IN THEIR ORIGINAL STYLE IS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE. THE DEPOT BUILDING IS OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK, EXCLUDING MAJOR HOLIDAYS. THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT PASS THROUGH THE BULIDING EVERY YEAR IS 55,000.
  2. $97,271 spent. MUSEUM: THE CHEYENNE DEPOT MUSEUM TELLS THE STORY OF THE HISTORY OF CHEYENNE, THE BUILDING OF THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD BY UNION PACIFIC, AND THE PEOPLE THAT MADE ALL OF IT POSSIBLE. THE MUSEUM IS ARRANGED CHRONOLOGICALLY, BEGINNING WITH THE PACIFIC RAILWAY ACT OF 1862. FOCUS AREAS INCLUDE THE BUILDING OF THE SHOPS AND YARD IN CHEYENNE AND THE TRANSITION OF ENGINES FROM STEAM TO DIESEL. UPSTAIRS IN WHAT WAS THE BAGGAGE AREA IS NOW THE BELOVED NARROW GAUGE UC&N MODEL RAILROAD BUILT BY HARRY W. BRUNK. THE MUSEUM IS OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK, EXCLUDING MAJOR HOLIDAYS. ANNUAL ATTENDANCE AVERAGES AT 18,000 VISITORS AND APPROXIMATELY 400 CHILDREN ON SCHOOL TOURS.
  3. $87,889 spent. GIFT SHOP: PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES THAT PROMOTE INTEREST IN RAIL HISTORY AND UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD'S INTERGRAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. WORKS WITH DOZENS OF EXPERTS AND HISTORIANS AS AN OUTLET FOR THEIR PUBLICATIONS AND ARTWORK. GIFTSHOP IS OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK, EXCLUDING MAJOR HOLIDAYS, AND ACTS AS MAIN POINT OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND MUSEUM ACCESS.
  4. $1,078 spent. DEPOT DAYS: THREE DAY ANNUAL EVENT FEATURING ACCESS TO THE UP STEAM SHOP, HOME OF BIG BOY 4014, THE HERITAGE COLLECTION IN THE ROUNDHOUSE, THE CHEYENNE DEPOT MUSEUM FEATURING HARRY BRUNK'S UNION CENTRAL & NORTHERN MODEL RAILROAD, AND MORE. THIS IS A COLLABORATIVE EVENT WITH THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD TO HELP PROMOTE THE HISTORY OF RAIL AND CONTINUING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE AREA AND NATION.
  5. DEPOT DAYS: THREE DAY ANNUAL EVENT FEATURING ACCESS TO THE UP STEAM SHOP, HOME OF BIG BOY 4014, THE HERITAGE COLLECTION IN THE ROUNDHOUSE, THE CHEYENNE DEPOT MUSEUM FEATURING HARRY BRUNK'S UNION CENTRAL & NORTHERN MODEL RAILROAD, AND MORE. THIS IS A COLLABORATIVE EVENT WITH THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD TO HELP PROMOTE THE HISTORY OF RAIL AND CONTINUING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE AREA AND NATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2004.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.