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The Historic Trails of Wyoming and Nebraska |
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Wyoming State Parks And Historic Sites
Fort Laramie National Historic Site: Established as a fur trade post in 1834, Fort Laramie was the most significant outpost along the Oregon Trail. It became a U. S. military fort in 1849 to protect the overland emigration. The Fort played a major role in the Plains Indian Wars of the 1860s-70s. (Operated by National Park Service.)
 Independence Rock State Historic Site: This granite monolith was, perhaps, the most anticipated landmark on the entire Oregon Trail. Arrival to this site by July 4th meant that wagon trains were on schedule to cross the distant mountains before winter. "The Rock" is covered with thousands of pioneer names. (Southwest of Casper on WY-220.)
Oregon Trail Ruts-Register Cliff State Historic Site: The most graphic physical evidence of the Oregon Trail are the wagon wheel ruts deeply etched into a limestone outcrop at this historic place. Nearby, pioneers carved their names into a cliff at Guernsey.
South Pass City: The South Pass gold rush started in 1867 when gold was discovered along Willow Creek. By 1868, South Pass City counted over 2,000 residents. The boom went quickly bust, and by 1870 most residents had moved on. (Between Lander and Farson off WY-220.)
 Fort Fetterman State Historic Site: When the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 closed the Bozeman Trail, Fort Fetterman became the last Army outpost in Indian territory.
Fort Bridger: Mountainman Jim Bridger built this trading post in 1843. It was the first trading post in the west built to serve the emigration rather than the fur trade.
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