Skip to Main Content

Emperor the Penguin.

Emperor the Penguin

Field review by the editors.

Little America, Wyoming

Died 1950

Pet Cemetery.

Little America -- well-known to I-80 travelers as The World's Largest Gas Station -- was named after Admiral Byrd's camp on the South Pole. Opened in 1932 by S.M. Covey, the refueling stop along the Lincoln Highway grew to include scores of gas pumps, a hotel, restaurants and a post office.

The owners wanted Emperor the penguin to be its live mascot, but the penguin died on its way from Antarctica to Boston. Wanting to make the best of a bad deal, Little America had Emperor stuffed and shipped anyway.

You can visit the famous bird in a wide, wood-paneled hallway on the ground floor of the Little America hotel. He stands on a fake block of ice.

Emperor's glass case is inviolable; you'll never see this bird wearing a Santa's cap or a New Year's diaper. In the words of one Little America employee: "The management doesn't allow joviality with the penguin."

As the symbol of the business, a stuffed penguin also stands in the lobby of the hotel in Cheyenne and other Little America properties.

Also see: Mascots | Roadside Pet Cemetery

RoadsideAmerica.com Team Field Report

Emperor the Penguin

Little America Hotel And Resort

Address:
I-80, Little America, WY
Directions:
At the Little America Hotel And Resort. I-80 exit 68. In the lobby opposite the check-in desk.
Phone:
307-875-2400
Save to My Sights

Emperor the Penguin

Little America Hotel And Resort

Address:
2800 W Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY
Directions:
At the Little America Hotel And Resort. Either I-80 exit 358 and turn north, or I-25 exit 9 and turn south. Just inside the entrance for guest check-ins.
Phone:
307-775-8400
Save to My Sights

Nearby Offbeat Places

Jim Bridger, Mountain ManJim Bridger, Mountain Man, Fort Bridger, WY - 32 mi.
J.C. Penney StatueJ.C. Penney Statue, Kemmerer, WY - 39 mi.
JC Penney Museum and Mother StoreJC Penney Museum and Mother Store, Kemmerer, WY - 39 mi.

More Quirky Attractions in Wyoming

Stories, reports and tips on tourist attractions and odd sights in Wyoming.

Explore Thousands of Unique Roadside Landmarks!

Strange and amusing destinations in the US and Canada are our specialty. Start here.
Use RoadsideAmerica.com's Attraction Maps to plan your next road trip.

My Sights

My Sights on Roadside America

Save Cool Vacation Destinations! ...Try My Sights

Mobile Apps

Roadside America app: iPhone, iPad Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! ...More

Roadside Presidents app: iPhone, iPad Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. POTUS landmarks, oddities. ...More

Wyoming Latest Tips and Stories

Latest Visitor Tips

Sight of the Week

Sight of the Week

JFK's World Famous Twine Ball, Highland, Wisconsin (Mar 18-24, 2024)

SotW Archive

USA and Canada Tips and Stories

More Sightings

Favorite Quirky City Sights