Fort Caspar, Military post and heritage site in Casper, United States.
Fort Caspar is a military post at a crucial river crossing of the North Platte in Wyoming with reconstructed buildings from the 1800s. The site shows the original layout with barracks, storage buildings, and wooden walls to demonstrate how soldiers worked and lived at this remote location.
The post was founded in 1862 as Platte Bridge Station to protect telegraph lines and mail routes from attack. In 1865 it was renamed after Lieutenant Caspar Collins, who died in a battle at the river crossing.
The site tells the story of Plains Indians and settlers who encountered each other at this river crossing. Visitors can see how different groups used this land and what daily life looked like for each.
The site is most accessible during warmer months, with limited operations during colder seasons. Visitors should prepare for outdoor walking across the grounds, as buildings are spread out and weather protection matters.
The place's name comes from a spelling mistake that stuck around for good. Lieutenant Collins's name was initially misspelled as Casper, but the error became so familiar that it stayed this way for the town and the fort.
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