Fort LaramieOutdoor Escape Game & Treasure Hunt

From Fur Trade Outpost to Military Stronghold

Fort Laramie's origins trace back to 1834, when fur traders William Sublette and Robert Campbell established Fort William at the confluence of the Laramie and North Platte Rivers. This log stockade served as a trading post for buffalo robes and other furs with Native American tribes like the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe. In 1841, the American Fur Company acquired the site, replacing the aging Fort William with a larger adobe structure named Fort John.

By the 1840s, the fort's role shifted as the fur trade declined and westward migration surged. Thousands of emigrants traveling the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails used Fort John as a resupply point. Recognizing its strategic importance, the U.S. Army purchased the fort in 1849 for $4,000, officially renaming it Fort Laramie. Over the next four decades, it became the largest military post on the Northern Plains. The Army constructed new buildings, including officers' and soldiers' quarters, a bakery, and a guardhouse, transforming the trading post into a military installation.

A Crossroads of Conflict and Diplomacy

Fort Laramie became a central hub for transportation and communication in the central Rocky Mountain region, with emigrant trails, stage lines, the Pony Express, and the transcontinental telegraph all passing through. It also played a role in treaty negotiations with Northern Plains Indian Nations. The Horse Creek Treaty of 1851, a gathering of over 10,000 Native Americans, aimed to establish peaceful relations and protect tribal lands. However, tensions escalated in the 1850s with increased emigrant traffic and military presence, leading to incidents like the Grattan Massacre in 1854. The fort continued to be a site of both conflict and diplomacy, including the signing of the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie, which sought to end Red Cloud's War. Fort Laramie remained an active military post until its abandonment in 1890, marking the close of an era that shaped the American West.

Fort Laramie presents over 50 structures and foundations from its military era. Most of what you will explore dates from its time as a military outpost, though the site's history as a fur trading post is also interpreted.

• —Old Bedlam (Officers' Quarters) — Built in 1849, this is the oldest known U.S. military structure in Wyoming. It originally housed officers of various ranks and marital statuses, featuring public kitchen areas.
• —Post Trader's Store — Also built in 1849, this store provided supplies to soldiers, Native Americans, and pioneers. The stone north section, added in 1852, served as the sutler's headquarters and post office.
• —Cavalry Barracks — Constructed in 1874, this was Fort Laramie's largest building, designed to house soldiers during the Indian Wars. You can see the large squad bays where soldiers slept, along with the downstairs kitchen and mess room.
• —Guardhouse — This stone structure held the fort's prisoners.
• —Old Bridge over the Laramie River — This Army Iron Bridge spans the North Platte River and is a piece of 19th-century engineering from the fort's military past.
• —Oregon Trail Swales Site — North of the fort, these visible ruts are trail marks left by thousands of wagon trains carrying early Western settlers.
• —Interpretive Sign near the River Confluence — This sign provides context on the location of the fort at the meeting of the Laramie and North Platte Rivers, a place important to both fur traders and emigrants.

The best time to visit Fort Laramie is from May to mid-June and throughout September. During these shoulder seasons, the weather is milder and crowds are smaller. Summer, from June through August, is popular, but days can be hot, often exceeding 90°F (32°C), with average highs in the 80s and 90s (30-35°C). Strong winds are common year-round, peaking in winter. Winter, from October to April, brings cold temperatures and subzero wind chills, and some historic buildings may be closed. However, clear winter days can be suitable for visits if you check road and service conditions.

Fort Laramie National Historic Site is in southeast Wyoming. The nearest major airports with passenger service are in Scottsbluff, Nebraska (52 miles), Cheyenne, Wyoming (98 miles), and Casper, Wyoming (120 miles). From Interstate 25, take exit 92 to US Highway 26, then proceed east to the town of Fort Laramie. Turn right on State Route 160 and travel three miles to the park entrance.

At the historic site, exploration is best done on foot. The grounds are extensive, and walking allows you to see the restored buildings and ruins. A self-guided audio tour is available, which uses GPS to trigger stories as you move through the site. Parking is available at the Visitor Center, located in the restored 1884 Commissary Storehouse, which also has an orientation film and museum exhibits. The site is fee-free year-round.