
"FORT LARAMIE" - Fort Laramie, WY
Posted by:
Dew Crew
N 42° 12.232 W 104° 33.445
13T E 536536 N 4672506
When most people think of Fort Laramie, they think of the Oregon Trail. I remember it from the classic computer game.
Waymark Code: WMGT3
Location: Wyoming, United States
Date Posted: 07/08/2006
Views: 83
It was made in 1841 to replace the original wooden stockade Fort William. Originally named Fort John, it was made of adobe brick and served as a trading post between the white man and Native Americans. Employees and travelers called it Fort Laramie. Apparently the name stuck.
The United States Army purchased the Fort in 1849 for $4000, making it the second Fort to be established along the Oregon Trail. They added more structures as the years progressed.
The Fort was used mainly for keeping peace between the white man and the Native Americans. Later on it was used as staging grounds, and a command post when attempting to remove the Natives from the Black Hills.

There was a plan to surround the entire Fort with a 9-foot stone and concrete wall, but due to expenses it was never made.

Settlers in their wagons would stay by the hundreds accross the river

The Fort closed in 1890 and the building auctioned off to the locals. Some have been restored, yet some remain as ruins.

The 4th US Cavalry camped at Fort Laramie during maneuvers in 1926. For a brief moment the sights, sounds, smells, feelings, and the call of the bugle returned.

Troops stayed in this building.

The Army built a bridge to get troops accross the river quicker.

I went kind of 'picture crazy' and tried to put just the best ones. If anyone wants more pictures let me know and I'll email them.