The story of America’s westward expansion is intrinsically linked with the numerous forts in Wyoming that once dotted its vast landscape. These outposts, ranging from humble fur trading posts to formidable military installations, were vital to the safety and success of pioneers, traders, and soldiers alike. This comprehensive overview explores the significant role these structures played in shaping the history of Wyoming and the broader American West, offering a glimpse into the struggles and triumphs of a bygone era.
Wyoming’s strategic location, particularly the discovery of the easy passage through the Rocky Mountains via the South Pass, made it a critical corridor for several historic trails, including the Oregon, Mormon Pioneer, California, and Pony Express routes. This geographical significance naturally led to the establishment of numerous forts, each serving distinct purposes from protecting emigrants and trade routes to asserting military control during conflicts with Native American tribes.
The Genesis of Wyoming’s Forts: Westward Expansion and the Fur Trade
Before military might took hold, the early forts in Wyoming often began as fur trading posts. These establishments were essential economic hubs, facilitating trade between trappers, Native Americans, and merchant companies. They were the initial points of contact and settlement in a largely untamed wilderness.
Early Fur Trading Posts
Fort Platte: Established in 1841 near the confluence of the North Platte and Laramie Rivers, Fort Platte was a significant fur trading post operated by Sybille, Adams & Co. It competed directly with the more famous Fort Laramie, contributing to the vibrant, albeit sometimes tumultuous, trade economy of the region. Its role was critical in the early interactions between trappers, traders, and various Native American tribes.
Fort Bonneville (Fort Nonsense): Built by Captain Benjamin Bonneville in 1832 near the Green River, this post was short-lived and earned its moniker ‘Fort Nonsense’ due to its perceived impracticality and rapid abandonment. Despite its brief existence, it marked an early attempt to establish a permanent presence in the vast trapping grounds of western Wyoming.
Fort Supply: Founded in 1853 by Mormon pioneers, Fort Supply was Wyoming’s first permanent agricultural settlement. Located near Fort Bridger, it served as a crucial supply depot for Latter-day Saints en route to Utah, providing food, shelter, and vital resources. Its destruction during the Utah War highlighted the period’s political and territorial tensions.
Fort Bridger: Arguably one of Wyoming’s most historically rich sites, Fort Bridger was established in 1843 by famed mountain man Jim Bridger and Louis Vasquez as a fur trading post. It quickly evolved into an indispensable stop on the Oregon, Mormon, and California Trails. Later, it became a military post and a Pony Express station, continually adapting to the changing needs of the frontier. Its longevity and multiple transformations make it unique among the state’s forts.
Fort Bernard: A less formal but important trading post that operated for a brief period in the mid-1840s, situated a few miles downstream from Fort Laramie. It primarily served emigrants and Native American tribes, exchanging goods and providing services before being dismantled.
Guardians of the Emigrant Trails
As westward migration intensified, the need for protection along the arduous trails became paramount. Many forts in Wyoming transitioned from trading posts to military installations or were established specifically to safeguard emigrants from hostile encounters and provide essential services.
Crucial Trail Forts
Fort Laramie: Starting as a fur trading post in 1834, Fort Laramie became a U.S. military post in 1849, serving as the most important outpost on the Northern Plains. It witnessed countless wagon trains pass, was the site of significant treaties with Native American tribes (most notably in 1851 and 1868), and played a central role in nearly every major event of the Great Plains Indian Wars. Its historical significance is unparalleled.
Fort Caspar: Originally Platte Bridge Station, this post was renamed Fort Caspar in 1865 in honor of Lieutenant Caspar Collins, who was killed in a battle nearby. It was vital for protecting the Overland Trail, the telegraph line, and the ferry crossing of the North Platte River. It represents the constant struggle to maintain communication and transportation routes across the frontier.
Fort Fetterman: Established in 1867 at the confluence of LaPrele Creek and the North Platte River, Fort Fetterman was a critical staging point for military operations during the Indian Wars, particularly along the Bozeman Trail. It served as a supply depot and a base for expeditions against Lakota and Cheyenne warriors, playing a significant role until its abandonment in 1882.
Fort Reno/Fort Connor: Established in 1865 on the Powder River, Fort Connor was quickly renamed Fort Reno. It was one of the three forts built to protect the Bozeman Trail, a controversial shortcut to the Montana goldfields that cut through prime hunting grounds of the Lakota. It was abandoned and burned during the Powder River War as part of the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868.
Fort Phil Kearny: Another key Bozeman Trail fort, Fort Phil Kearny, established in 1866, was perhaps the most beleaguered. It became infamous as the site of the Fetterman Fight (or Fetterman Massacre) in December 1866, where Captain William J. Fetterman and his command were annihilated by a coalition of Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors. This event starkly highlighted the intense conflict on the Bozeman Trail.
Fort H.W. Halleck: Located in the Laramie Mountains, this fort was established in 1862 to protect the Overland Trail and later the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad. It played a significant role in maintaining order and safeguarding vital transportation lines during a period of rapid expansion.
Military Operations and Indian Wars Era
The post-Civil War era brought an increased military presence to Wyoming, driven by the expansion of the transcontinental railroad and ongoing conflicts with Native American tribes. These forts in Wyoming served as strategic bases for cavalry and infantry, projecting American power into the frontier.
Frontier Military Outposts
Fort Fred Steele: Established in 1868 along the Union Pacific Railroad near the North Platte River, Fort Fred Steele was crucial for protecting railroad construction and operations. It also served as a military base during the Ute War and other Indian conflicts, remaining active until 1886. Its barracks and blockhouses offer a tangible connection to the past.
Fort Sanders: Located southwest of Laramie, Fort Sanders was founded in 1866 to protect the Overland Trail and the nascent Union Pacific Railroad. It quickly became a significant military command post, playing a role in the conflicts with Native American tribes and later serving as a quartermaster depot.
Fort David A. Russell (later F.E. Warren Air Force Base): Established in 1867, this fort near Cheyenne evolved from a frontier post protecting the railroad to one of the longest continuously active military installations in the United States. Its evolution reflects the changing nature of national defense, transitioning from cavalry and infantry to a modern air force base.
Fort McKinney: Established in 1878 near present-day Buffalo, Wyoming, Fort McKinney was one of the last military posts built during the Indian Wars. It played a role in the Johnson County War and was essential for maintaining peace and order in the cattle country before its closure in 1894.
Fort Clay: A less prominent military outpost, Fort Clay was likely a temporary or minor station established to protect specific routes or resources during periods of conflict. Details on its exact location and duration are often scarce, highlighting the myriad smaller, yet important, presences on the frontier.
Fort Stambaugh: Established in 1870 in the Sweetwater Mining District, Fort Stambaugh was specifically created to protect miners and settlers during the gold rush era. It illustrates the government’s efforts to bring order to resource-rich areas that attracted a diverse and often volatile population.
The Enduring Legacy: From Frontier Outpost to National Treasure
While many forts eventually faded into history, some continued to serve new purposes or have been preserved as historical sites, offering invaluable insights into the past. These sites serve as powerful reminders of the complex and often challenging process of nation-building in the American West.
Preserving History: Fort Yellowstone and Beyond
Fort Washakie (formerly Camp Augur/Camp Brown): Established in 1869 as Camp Augur, renamed Camp Brown, and finally Fort Washakie in 1878, this post had a unique history. It was built within the Wind River Indian Reservation and served as both a military installation and an agency for the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes. It represents a complex intersection of military, Native American, and governmental history.
Fort Yellowstone: Uniquely established within the world’s first national park in 1891, Fort Yellowstone was a military post tasked with protecting the park’s natural resources and wildlife from poachers and vandals. Its existence highlights the early challenges of conservation and the role of the military in stewarding national treasures, remaining active until the establishment of the National Park Service.
The extensive network of forts in Wyoming stands as a testament to the dynamic forces that shaped the American West. From the early fur trade to the massive migrations along the emigrant trails and the intense conflicts of the Indian Wars, these outposts were focal points of human endeavor, sacrifice, and ambition. Today, many of these sites are preserved as monuments, allowing visitors to walk in the footsteps of history and gain a deeper appreciation for the rugged determination that forged a nation. They are not merely ruins but living classrooms, vital for understanding our collective past.
