7 Must-See Historic Forts In Wyoming

Wyoming’s wide-open landscapes are dotted with reminders of its frontier past, and its historic forts stand as lasting witnesses to that era. From military outposts that safeguarded early travelers to trading posts that nurtured cultural exchange, these forts tell stories of resilience, conflict, and community on the western frontier. Today, visitors can walk the same grounds once crossed by soldiers, settlers, and Native peoples. Here are seven must-see historic forts in Wyoming that bring history vividly to life.

Fort Laramie National Historic Site

Fort Laramie National Historic Site, once known as Fort William and later Fort John, began in 1834 as a fur trading post at the junction of the Laramie and North Platte Rivers. Its location soon became an essential stop for emigrant wagon trains heading toward Oregon, California, and Utah during the 1840s. In 1849, the U.S. Army purchased the site, transforming it into a military post that played a central role in westward migration, Native diplomacy, and frontier defense. For more than four decades, the fort stood at the crossroads of cultures, serving as both a hub of commerce and a flashpoint of conflict during the height of the northern plains struggles, including the “Great Sioux War” of 1876. After closing in 1890, the fort was preserved and designated as a National Historic Site in 1960.

Today, visitors can step into the past at this remarkable landmark. The restored 1884 Commissary Storehouse serves as the visitor center, featuring an orientation film, exhibits, and a museum collection that sets the stage for exploration. Outdoors, history comes alive with costumed interpreters, bugle calls, and 12 restored structures ranging from officers’ quarters to guardhouses, with additional ruins across the grounds. Trails extend from the historic Old Iron Bridge to the confluence of the rivers, offering scenic views, wildlife sightings, and a chance to reflect on the fort’s enduring role in America’s story of expansion and change.

Fort Bridger State Historic Site

Fort Bridger, founded in 1843 by famed mountain man Jim Bridger, began as a fur trading outpost along Blacks Fork of the Green River in what was then Mexican territory. Its two original log houses and horse corral quickly grew into a crucial resupply stop for emigrants traveling the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails. By the late 1850s, the post became entangled in the Utah War, when Mormon settlers burned it to deny use to the U.S. Army. Rebuilt in 1858, the fort served as a military post until 1890 and also functioned as a Pony Express station in the 1860s. Decades later, the remaining buildings were preserved, with Fort Bridger officially dedicated as a Wyoming Historical Landmark and Museum in 1933.

Today, Fort Bridger State Historic Site spans 37 acres and contains 27 historic buildings, replica structures, and archeological sites that capture the fort’s evolving role through different eras. Visitors can explore the Pony Express barn, remnants of the Mormon protective wall, a civilian cemetery, and museums that showcase artifacts tied to mountain men, soldiers, and pioneers. Living history programs and open excavations bring the past into focus, while the town of Fort Bridger provides modern amenities for travelers. Each Labor Day weekend, the renowned Fort Bridger Rendezvous transforms the grounds into a bustling scene reminiscent of the Fur Trade Era, celebrating frontier traditions with demonstrations, crafts, and reenactments that make history tangible.

Fort Sanders

Fort Sanders was constructed in 1866 on the Laramie Plains, just south of present-day Laramie, Wyoming. First named Fort John Buford, it was soon renamed in honor of General William P. Sanders, who lost his life during the Siege of Knoxville in the Civil War. The fort’s initial mission was to safeguard travelers on the Overland Trail, but its role shifted in 1868 with the arrival of the Union Pacific Railroad, as soldiers protected rail crews from potential conflict. With the rise of Fort D.A. Russell in Cheyenne, Fort Sanders declined in strategic importance, though it remained active until 1882, after which its buildings were auctioned off. In 1980, the guard house and monument gained recognition on the National Register of Historic Places, preserving what was once a key outpost in Wyoming’s frontier story.

Today, visitors to the site can still see the stone walls of the guard house, a haunting reminder of the fort’s turbulent years. The property, managed by the Albany County Historic Preservation Board, invites exploration through an east-side gate that leads into the structure. Standing inside, it is easy to imagine the fort’s past, including the grim tale of deserter John Riley, who spent six months here shackled with a 24-pound ball and chain. Though the original log beams and roof are long gone, the site remains a vivid connection to the hardships, discipline, and resilience that shaped Wyoming’s early days.

Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site

Fort Phil Kearny rose on the Bozeman Trail in northeastern Wyoming during the summer of 1866, built under Colonel Henry B. Carrington and his troops of the 18th Infantry. Named for Major General Philip Kearny, a revered Civil War commander, it became the largest of three stockaded forts guarding emigrants traveling to Montana’s gold fields. Standing at 4,700 feet above sea level, the fort quickly gained notoriety among Native tribes, who called it the “hated post on the Little Piney.” It became the focal point of Red Cloud’s War, with two major clashes nearby—the Fetterman Fight of 1866 and the Wagon Box Fight of 1867—both shaping the course of frontier conflict. Following the Treaty of Fort Laramie in 1868, the trail was abandoned, the soldiers withdrew, and Cheyenne warriors burned the fort to the ground.

Today, Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site preserves the story of this turbulent era. Visitors can explore interpretive trails leading to the battlefields, where markers and exhibits recount the perspectives of both Native warriors and U.S. soldiers. Though the original stockade is gone, a reconstructed section of the fort stands as a reminder of its short but pivotal role in westward expansion. Recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1960 and later placed on the National Register of Historic Places, the site provides a striking window into one of the most contested chapters of Wyoming’s frontier history.

Fort Washakie Historic District

Fort Washakie began its history in 1869 as Camp Augur, named for General Christopher C. Augur of the Department of the Platte. Just a year later, it became Camp Brown in memory of Captain Frederick H. Brown, who fell during the Fetterman Massacre of 1866. In 1878, the post received a new name—Fort Washakie—in honor of the respected Shoshone leader Chief Washakie. This distinction made it one of the very few U.S. military posts named for a Native American, marking a rare recognition of Native leadership during a period otherwise defined by conflict. The fort remained an active Army installation until 1909, when it was decommissioned and transferred to the Shoshone Indian Agency.

Today, the Fort Washakie Historic District is part of the Wind River Indian Reservation, preserving a layered story of frontier military presence, Native relations, and tribal heritage. Within its grounds lie the graves of both Chief Washakie and Sacajawea, the famed Shoshone guide of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, making the site a place of deep historical and cultural resonance. Visitors to the district encounter not only the remnants of a military post but also a powerful symbol of Native resilience and the blending of histories that shaped Wyoming and the greater American West.

Fort Fred Steele State Historic Site

Fort Fred Steele was established in 1868 along the North Platte River in Carbon County to safeguard the Union Pacific Railroad during its construction across the American West. Built by soldiers and civilian workers, the post became one of three forts protecting the new rail line, alongside Fort Sanders near Laramie and Fort D.A. Russell in Cheyenne. Named after General Frederick Steele, the fort quickly rose in importance, hosting high-ranking military leaders such as Ulysses S. Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman during an early inspection of the railroad. Beyond guarding against Native attacks, troops from Fort Steele enforced law in the region and were even called into labor disputes as far as Chicago. Its most tragic episode came in 1878, when a detachment led by Major Thomas Thornburgh was ambushed at the Battle of Milk Creek during the White River War, resulting in heavy casualties. The post was eventually abandoned in 1886, and its buildings were left to fire and decay.

Today, Fort Fred Steele State Historic Site preserves the remnants of this once-busy frontier stronghold. Visitors can walk among surviving foundations and scattered structures that speak to its role in shaping Wyoming’s military, transportation, and economic development. Managed by the Division of State Parks, Historic Sites, and Trails, the grounds present a rare glimpse into the intersection of rail expansion, Army presence, and frontier industry. Though much of the fort has faded, the site remains a powerful reminder of the transcontinental railroad era and the shifting frontiers that defined Wyoming’s early years.

Fort Caspar

Fort Caspar, located on the banks of the North Platte River in present-day Casper, began as a trading post and toll bridge in 1859 along the Oregon Trail. By 1862, the U.S. Army assumed control of the site, renaming it Platte Bridge Station and assigning troops to safeguard emigrants, telegraph lines, and freight traffic from Lakota and Cheyenne raids. In July 1865, the fort witnessed the fierce Battle of Platte Bridge Station, where 2nd Lieutenant Caspar Collins lost his life, and the post was renamed in his honor. The Army abandoned Fort Caspar in 1867, but its legacy endures as an important chapter in the history of western expansion and frontier conflict.

Today, the Fort Caspar Museum and Historic Site preserves and interprets this past for visitors. The partially reconstructed fort, completed in 1936 using Lieutenant Collins’ 1863 sketches, allows guests to explore log buildings, a protective wooden stockade, and a replica of the Mormon ferry once used for river crossings. A section of the later bridge is also on display, offering insight into changing modes of travel across the North Platte. The museum showcases artifacts and stories of frontier life, while annual living history reenactments bring the site’s military presence to life, honoring both its soldiers and the challenges of life on the trail.

Wyoming’s historic forts stand as enduring reminders of the challenges, triumphs, and cultural crossroads that shaped the American West. From the bustling trade and diplomacy at Fort Laramie to the fierce battles near Fort Phil Kearny, each site tells a unique story of frontier life, military strategy, and Native resistance. Exploring places like Fort Washakie, Fort Caspar, and Fort Fred Steele shows visitors a deeper connection to history while walking the same grounds where pivotal moments of the 19th century unfolded.