Fort Caspar Museum and Historic Site

 We are often surprised at the number and scope of President Roosevelt's 1930s New Deal projects. Fort Casper was a minor fort, used by the Army from 1862 to 1867 with a mission to protect the newly installed telegraph lines and to keep peace between Native Americans and immigrants traveling west, yet rebuilding the fort was a several year project that involved both the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps.The wonderful condition of the buildings today is a testament to their workmanship. 

In 1859, Louis Guinard built a trading post and a bridge at the site and the Pony Express established a station there. When the Army took over the trading post to use it as a fort the soldiers named it "Platte Bridge Station". This is what was reconstructed although later the fort was enlarged with 20 more buildings to house 400 - 500 soldiers. The reconstruction includes barracks, officers' quarters, mess hall, commissary, sutler's store, blacksmith's shop, stable, and telegraph office - all furnished as they would have been in the 1860s. A partial reconstruction of the bridge, a Mormon wagon, and a carriage shed are also on the grounds. 

 

The museum exhibits cover the fort history but there are also very good exhibits on other aspects of area history including hunting methods of the Paleo-Indian people, emigrant trails, the gas and oil industries, and cattle and sheep ranching. 

The museum is accessible. The fort is minimally accessible. A paved path leads to the fort but the paths on the fort grounds are gravel and difficult to push along. The rooms of the fort have small viewing areas with plexiglass barriers. Each entrance door has a step up with some of them having several levels making entry difficult even with assistance. Reflections on the plexiglass makes viewing the interiors of the rooms impossible without entering the room. 

The parking lot is large enough for any RV.  Museum  42.83611, -106.37137