Fort Caspar

Reconstructed 1865 frontier army post west of downtown

A reconstructed army fort and museum on the south bank of the North Platte, on the spot where the old emigrant trails crossed the river. The original log buildings are gone, but careful 1936 recreations stand on the original footings — soldiers' quarters, stables, telegraph office, and the Mormon Ferry boat.

The adjoining Fort Caspar Museum covers prehistoric peoples, the trails era, the 1860s army post, and Casper's later oil-town history. Inexpensive admission, mostly outdoor, a good two hours. Especially worth the visit if travelling with kids.

things to do museum sight
A story
The fort is named after Lieutenant Caspar Collins, killed in the 1865 Battle of Platte Bridge while trying to rescue an army wagon train from Cheyenne and Lakota warriors. The city of Casper later took the same name — minus an "a", because of an early clerk's spelling error.

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