Fort Laramie, Military fort in Goshen County, Wyoming, United States.
Fort Laramie sits where the North Platte and Laramie Rivers meet, displaying restored military buildings and structures from the 1800s frontier period. The site contains original architecture that shows how soldiers and civilian traders lived during westward expansion.
The site began in 1834 as a fur trading post and became a military fort in 1849 when the Army took control. This shift made it a key checkpoint for thousands of settlers moving westward across the continent.
The fort served as a meeting ground where Native American nations and settlers negotiated crucial agreements about land and coexistence. These conversations shaped the relationship between the two groups during the expansion westward.
You can walk through the grounds at your own pace, with the visitor center offering exhibits and recorded guides to explain the buildings. Well-maintained paths connect the structures, making it easy to navigate without requiring a guided tour.
The oldest surviving military building in Wyoming, called Old Bedlam, once housed officer quarters and the fort's administrative center. Walking through it reveals how commanders and their staff actually worked and lived during the mid-1800s.
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