Fort Bridger State Historic Park

Right next to our campground in Ft. Bridger Wyoming, is the Fort Bridger State Historic Site.  We ventured over this morning to check it out.

We had a very enjoyable time exploring this site.  Pictured is me, Andy, Diane, and Ray.

The park is absolutely beautiful.  In 1843 the area was established by Jim Bridger and Louis Vasquez.  They wanted to set up a trading post to supply the Mountain Men and Indians in the area and hopefully the emigrants and Mormon Pioneers on their trek to the West.  Although their trading post only lasted a little more than a decade, they were very successful.  The area was sold to the Mormons in the 1850's and then the Army took over in 1858.

During the Army occupation, a man named Carter came with them and set up his own store to provide goods for the Army and other emigrants.  The fort sat on the Mormon Trail, the Oregon Trail, Overland Stage Route, the Union Pacific Railroad and Pony Express route, so there was always someone needing supplies.  This was our Docent - He was very knowledgeable and told us many interesting things about the fort.  I keep saying fort, but this fort isn't like you think with big walls surrounding it.  In Jim Bridger's day, there was a fence around the trading post and the Mormons built a stone wall surrounding the area while they had it.  The stone wall crumbled while the Army was in possession and was not rebuilt.

This is a reproduction of Jim Bridger's Trading Post.  Most all of the buildings in the park are reproductions.  When the Mormons left, they burned everything to the ground and after the Army left most of the buildings were sold and moved or dismantled for the construction materials.  In 1933 the property was dedicated as a Wyoming Historical Landmark and Museum.  Various groups and individuals took interest in preserving and restoring what remained of the old Fort Bridger - including reproducing buildings that were no longer there.

One  of the restored buildings was the Commanding Officer's Quarters. 

Wow ... a chair made from Moose and other antlers - how interesting!



Another "critter" chair.

At some point, the wagon trails changed into a road called the Lincoln Highway. This preceded President Eisenhower's Interstate System, which is now I-90.  This was the Black and Orange Lincoln Highway Motel - likely the first "motel" anywhere.  As you see, the prices for a motel room have gone up significantly!

Each unit had it's own garage - for their Horseless Carriage!