What is Fort Laramie?

Originally established as a private fur trading fort in 1834, Fort Laramie evolved into the largest and best-known military post on the Northern Plains. This “Grand Old Post” witnessed the entire sweeping saga of America’s western expansion and Indian resistance to encroachment on their territories. Fort Laramie’s roles in western history is vase, as it covers the years of early American Indian inhabitants, fur trappers, Mexican workers, Westward bound immigrants, the United States Military, and the families of these groups of people. The fort interprets and preserves the many important histories of these people, along with over 50 structures and foundations that were built during the military era at the historic site.

 

Lakota gathering at Pine Ridge in 1891.

Library of Congress

American Indians at Fort Laramie

Humans started to arrive in present day Southeast Wyoming around 10,000 years ago. By 1700, the main native tribes in the area were the Crow, Kiowa, Gataka, Shoshoni, and Comanche. However, around 1780, many of these tribes were pushed South and West because of the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe were moving into the area. These tribes were fleeing from the Iroquois Confederacy in the east, who were raiding their villages to boost their own population. The adapted of utilizing horses by natives made them more nomadic as European and American fur trappers started to enter the area in the early 1800s. Over twenty-five different tribes would trade furs, goods, and weapons at first Fort William, then Fort John, and finally Fort Laramie. In 1851, the Horse Creek Treaty of 1851 was signed eight miles east of Fort Laramie. This was put in place to help protect native lands and immigrants heading West. The treaty was broken by the United States and Congress never ratified the treaty, thus making it never legal. In 1868, the Fort Laramie Treaty was signed by the United States and several American Indian leaders, including Red Cloud, who defeated the US in Red Cloud’s War from 1865-1868. The treaty forced all natives to stay north of the Platte River and created the Great Sioux Reservation. Natives were never allowed to come back to Fort Laramie again and in the 1870s, hundreds of soldiers from Fort Laramie were sent northward to attack American Indian villages and encampments that did not comply with the Treaty’s orders.

 

A painting of Fort John 1841-1849.

NPS

Fur Trappers, Fort William, and Fort John

Fur trappers started to appear in present-day Wyoming in the early 1800s. Searching for animals to trap, the beaver was their main target. Before Europeans arrived in North America in the 1500s, there were over 400 million beavers, by 1900, there were less than 400 thousand. Several groups and companies of fur trappers-built forts in the west to control and manage the trading of pelts to the east. William Sublette and his brothers built the first fort in this area in 1834 called Fort William, out of wood. After a slowing of profits from the fur trade in 1841, the Sublette’s sold their fort to the American Fur Trade Company, who then built Fort John out of adobe. This fort helped resupply immigrants heading west and was place of immense trading between fur trappers and native tribes.

 

Covered wagons on display below Eagle Bluff.

NPS

Overland Trails

In the late 1830s, Americans started to look for new economic opportunity or religious freedom. Following paths craved by fur trappers, people traveled through Fort John and Fort Laramie between 1840 to 1869 to Oregon, California, and Utah. The forts were utilized as places to resupply for the rest of their journey and as a hospital as many immigrants were sick upon arrival to the fort. Over 500,000 people would travel through the forts and about 25,000 would not make it to their destination.

 

The army band playing at the fort.

NPS

United States Military

The United States military bought Fort John in 1849, and the first soldiers arrived in July of that year. Building started immediately at fort to provide supplies and protection for immigrants heading west. For the next forty years, the military operated as a supply base and jumping off point for many military campaigns into northern Wyoming and southern Montana. While many troops were infantry, cavalry was also often placed at the fort for different periods of time. On average there were around 400 troops stationed at the fort. The fort was usually commanded by either a captain or a colonel.For enlisted soldiers, life at the fort was often boring. Drill filled up most days for these soldiers and fatigue details, such as cutting down trees for firewood, cutting ice blocks from the river, and fire maintenance. Many of the soldiers were recent immigrants and this was their first opportunity for education in the United States. For officers, their families were able to join them. Down officers row, children would be seen and the fort at times would feel like a neighbor rather than a military fort. Schools and hospitals were built on fort property to fulfill the needs of children and their families.

 

The Sutler's Store at Fort Laramie.

NPS

After the Military

Fort Laramie was decommissioned in 1890. A detachment of the 9^th Cavalry of Buffalo Soldiers came to the fort the same year. The soldiers took anything of value and brought it back to Fort Robinson in Nebraska. The former government structures were soon sold to homesteaders. These families would live in several of these houses for the next thirty years, until the state of Wyoming bought the land and donated it to the federal government in 1937. One year later, by presidential proclamation, Fort Laramie was established as a national monument and would be operated by the National Park Service. Today Fort Laramie is designated as a National Historic Site, to protect and interpret its decades of history.

 

Duration:

19 minutes, 30 seconds

An 18-minute-long film covering the history of Fort Laramie.