Wyoming economic development gets a little help from some good old fashioned hospitality. Wyoming has heritage links to westward expansion, the birth of the railroads, cattle, commodities and minerals. It is also home to a roster of historic hotels that played host to some of the most famous — and sometimes infamous — names of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Those names include Butch Cassidy, Buffalo Bill, Calamity Jane, Teddy Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover and Ernest Hemingway.

“The historic hotels each represent different pieces in the story of building the West,” says Jim Osterfoss, president of Cheyenne-based Historic Hotels of the Rockies. “Cattle barons, railroaders, gold rushers, outlaws and everyday folks — they all stayed at our historic Wyoming hotels.”

Some of the most interesting venues still exist today.

Elk Mountain Hotel

Elk Mountain debuted in 1905 and was completely restored in 2002. It is nestled between Laramie and Rawlins just off Interstate 80, at an elevation of 7,264 feet. The 12-bedroom hotel is renowned for its food, thanks to co-owner Susan Prescott-Havers, a Cordon Bleu chef trained in Paris.

Historic Plains Hotel

Historic Plains Hotel in Cheyenne has been around since 1911 and was a favorite of presidents, movie stars and cattle ranchers. The building was renovated in 2003 and is adorned with Western artwork and cowboy high-style décor. Also on site is The Capital Grille.

Irma Hotel

The Irma, built in Cody in 1902, was owned by town father William "Buffalo Bill" Cody, who named the hotel for his daughter, Irma. Guests today can even stay in Buffalo Bill's private suite, and the cherry wood bar in the lobby (a gift from England's Queen Victoria) is one of the most photographed spots in town.

Nagle Warren Mansion Bed & Breakfast

Nagle Warren Mansion was built in 1888 and eventually became the home of Sen. Francis E. Warren, who entertained the likes of Presidents Teddy Roosevelt and William Taft. Today, the AAA 4 Diamond award-winning mansion in downtown Cheyenne has been fully restored to its original glory.

Occidental Hotel & Restaurant

The Occidental in Buffalo, Wyo., dates to the late 1800s, and current owners John and Dawn Wexo purchased the building in 1997 to begin a 10-year restoration process. The couple kept interesting items such as embossed tin ceilings, several antique chairs and 23 bullet holes in the saloon.

Sheridan Inn

The Sheridan Inn, located in Sheridan, opened in 1893 when Buffalo Bill Cody established it as the first property in his W.F. Cody Hotel Co. Today, the Sheridan Inn hosts the 1893 Grille and Spirits restaurant on its completely restored first floor. A fundraising effort is currently under way to renovate the inn's second and third floors, which will eventually feature 22 rooms.

Hotel Wolf

Hotel Wolf in Saratoga is on the National Register of Historic Places, having opened on New Year's Eve in 1893. Built by German immigrant Frederick G. Wolf for $6,000, the 2-1/2-story Victorian-style structure has been the anchor for downtown Saratoga for 118 years. The rooms are known for their comfort while the Hotel Wolf Restaurant is acclaimed for its fine dining at competitive prices.