| Fort Caspar |
Known as the Platte Bridge Station in 1860-1861, this was the next major
stop after Fort Laramie. This was one of the few places where the mighty Platte River could be crossed. The Mormons
established an early ferry system here, followed by Louis Guinard, who built the first bridge here in 1859. It was
Guinard's trading post that functioned as a Pony Express stop as well. The army established a post here in 1862, which
was later renamed to Fort Caspar in 1865. (And yes, the fort is CASPAR while the town is CASPER. Depending on which
source you read, it was either a postal clerk or a telegraph operator who mis-spelled the name of Caspar and the new
name of "Casper" stuck for the city.
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The Pony Express marker outside the old fort. |
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Inside the fort. (The original Fort Caspar was destroyed, but it has been recreated to be as authentic as possible.) |
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Inside the soldiers' quarters. |
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The barracks. |
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Time for dinner. |
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An officer's quarters. |
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The stables. |
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Inside the barracks. |
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The telegraph operator's quarters. |
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The site of the original bridge. (The Platte River's course has changed over the years.) |
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A re-creation of the ferry system set up by the early Mormon pioneers. |
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Behind the fort. |
