Casper Wyoming Area Attractions

Casper Wyoming is known as "The Oil City" because of its long history of being an oil boom town, but its absolutely incredible Old West history is the overwhelming attribute of this amazing Western town. Located in the east-central area of Wyoming along Interstate 25 at an elevation of over 5,000 feet above sea level on the high plains of Wyoming, Casper Wyoming's 55,000+ residents are surrounded by incredible Old West history and landmarks... from the fascinating Historic Trails Interpretive Center to Independence Rock State Historic Site to Fort Caspar State Historic Site and Museum, to the Tate Geological Museum, Casper Wyoming is a mecca for visitors interested in Old West history, which includes Native American, pioneer, cowboy and ranching history... and much more.  There are many museums and attractions that will unfold the astounding history that occurred here.  Nestled at the foot of Casper Mountain along the north end of the Laramie Range along the historic North Platte River, we strongly feel that Casper Wyoming is a "must see" for anyone fascinated with the history of the Old West during their Wyoming vacation.

Brief History of Casper Wyoming
The town of Casper Wyoming was built just east of the original site of Fort Caspar, which was a popular place for emigrants to cross the North Platte River on their way along the Oregon Trail to the West Coast. There were several ferries providing this service beginning in the 1840s.  Then in 1859 a bridge was built across the North Platte River, and a fort was built in 1859 on the banks of the North Platte River originally used as a trading post and toll for the pioneers needing to cross the North Platte River along the Oregon Trail via covered wagon, and later became a military post as the mass migration of pioneers poured onto the Oregon Trail, California Trail and Mormon Trail en route to the West Coast.  When the U.S. Army took over the station they renamed it the Platte Bridge Station. Their objective was to protect emigrants using the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails from the frequent raids led by the Cheyenne and Lakota Indians during the ongoing wars between these two Indian tribes and the U.S. Government.  

Fort Caspar was named after 2nd Lieutenant Caspar Collins, a U.S. Army officer who was killed in the 1865 Battle of the Platte Bridge Station. The original site of Fort Caspar in Casper Wyoming is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and the Fort Caspar Historic Site and Museum is a popular destination for vacationers visiting the Casper Wyoming area. The town of Casper Wyoming was actually founded years after Fort Caspar had been closed.  The town of Casper was founded in June of 1888 when the tracks of the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad arrived.  The town was named after the nearby Fort Caspar, which was at that time in ruins. Named after Lt. Caspar Collins, who was killed by Indians in 1865, the reason Casper Wyoming is not Caspar Wyoming was due to a typo that happened during the official registration of the town in 1889.

Not long after the railroad arrived, Casper Wyoming became a very significant shipping point for wool and cattle, and buildings began to be built and the town began to grow. On April 9, 1889, Casper Wyoming officially became an incorporated town. But early on, Casper was a classic Wild West Town, with the classic saloons, brothels, gunfights, and everything else that one would picture an Old West Town to have. In time, the lawlessness was subdued by early law enforcement efforts...which is a fascinating story in and of itself.

The town leaders of Casper, once it became incorporated, quickly built a city water supply, schools, streets, a library, fire department and more.  Then on July 7, 1890 the town's government moved into a two story brick building on Center Street, having a bell tower and large central hall.  Casper was rapidly become a major center of commerce in the newly settled West.