Old Fort Caspar

Originally known to trappers and explorers from 1830 to 1847 as Upper Crossing of the North Platte River, the site became the Mormon Ferry in 1847. Guinard built a bridge here in 1858, and troops from Platte Bridge Station guarded the telegraph line and protected emigrants on the Oregon Trail. On July 26, 1865, the station was attacked by hordes of Indians. Lt. Caspar Collins led a heroic attempt to rescue Sgt. Custard’s wagon train, but sacrificed his life in aiding a fallen soldier. The station was renamed Fort Caspar in his honor. Abandoned in 1867, the fort and bridge were burned by Indians. The old fort was restored on its original foundations in 1936.

Casper, Wyoming · United States