The Wyoming Infrared Observatory on Jelm Mountain southwest of Laramie, owned by the University of Wyoming, was founded in 1975 and began observations in 1977. Its principal instrument, the 2.3-meter WIRO telescope, was built for infrared observing and for several years was the world’s largest working infrared telescope. Additional instruments have included WIRO-Prime and WIRO-Long Slit, supporting varied astronomical research. Soon after first light in 1979, the observatory recorded the first dust formation episode seen in a Wolf-Rayet star on UY Scuti. It later contributed to the discovery of a previously unknown Milky Way globular cluster and to work identifying about 100 of the galaxy’s fastest-moving known stars.