What is it about the letter "e" that gave Western scribblers so much trouble? (Remember Fort Kearny?) Whatever the case, the name of our new destination — Fort Caspar — has a pair of a's in it, while the surrounding town is the more recognizable Casper.

Fort Caspar is 766 miles along the Oregon Trail. This is the western limit of my own efforts thus far to retrace the pioneer's footsteps. As a matter of fact, I visited here back in 1993 on my way to the Tetons, before I had even formed an interest in either the Great Migration or our National Grasslands.

The spot is important for a couple reasons. First, this was where the travelers would have to cross to the north side of the river. Brigham Young came through here in 1847 and set up a ferry service for this very purpose. It continued to operate for another five years or so, easing the task of crossing for later emigrants, while generating some income at the same time, one presumes.

Moreover, I think Fort Caspar might have represented a "farewell" of sorts, for in several more days, travelers would leave the Great Platte River Road as they began following the Sweetwater to South Pass. (South Pass was the easy, almost gentle, way to cross the Continental Divide).

The first permanent occupation of the area came about in 1859 when a bridge and trading post were set up here. Called the Platte Bridge Station, it served as a general store, Pony Express station and later on, a telegraph office. As the federal government continued to move ever more troops westward, it eventually became a military post. It was renamed in honor of Lt. Caspar Collins who was killed in a skirmish with the Sioux and Cheyenne. This was in 1865, a time when hostilities on both sides were growing considerably.

Today the Fort is a museum owned and operated by the City of Casper. Admission is very inexpensive at a mere two bucks or so. Many of the buildings have been reconstructed on original foundation sites, using contemporaneous drawings. Apart from the neat grounds, there is also an excellent interpretive center. The latter is open year round, while the military buildings are open for viewing during the summer months. To get there along State Road 220, turn off at Wyoming Boulevard which you'll follow briefly to Collins Street.

• Municipal
  • City of Casper