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Exhibits
Museum Gallery • Temporary Exhibits • Traveling Exhibits
Fort Grounds • Cemetery • Carriage Shed • Centennial Park
Museum Gallery
Since the fort was reconstructed in 1936, Fort Caspar Museum has acquired, preserved, and exhibited historical objects related to Fort Caspar, the City of Casper, Natrona County, and central Wyoming. The Museum relies on the donation of objects, photographs, and archival materials to help preserve and share Casper stories with visitors.
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Prehistoric Central Wyoming
The first occupation of this area was by Paleoindian people. Learn about mammoth and bison hunts, lithic production, and cultural chronology from Paleoinidan to Proto-Historic. |
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Trail Features
Emigrants following the Oregon, Mormon, and California Trails passed this site during the westward migration. The exhibit features the Mormon Ferry, Guinard Bridge, and Richard Bridge. |
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Fort Caspar History
Complimenting the outdoor fort buildings. Visitors will discover additional history about Fort Caspar, the 1936 reconstruction, Caspar Collins, and archaeology conducted on the site. |
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Community Development
Walk through 100 years of Casper history illustrated with objects from the museum collection and leand about the history of all the communities in Natrona County through an interactive video. |
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Oil and Gas Industry
An integral part of Natrona County's growth and economy, the industry is presented in exhibits that feature refineries and oil field development. |
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Central Wyoming Agriculture Centered around a 1901 Schulte Hardware Sheepwagon the exhibit highlights the development of the sheep and cattle industry in central Wyoming. |
Temporary Exhibits
In the Temporary Gallery
Native American Exhibit
The new temporary Native American exhibit at Fort Caspar Museum explores life of the Northern Plains Indian in both pre- and post- Reservation period settings. Objects on display include clothing, tools used for hunting and war, and ceremonial pipes. These objects are tied in to the history of the Native Americans on the Northern Plains as well as to the history of these same tribes after moving to the reservations. |
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Southwest Pottery & Basketry
A new exhibit about Southwest Pottery and Basketry includes multiple examples of original pottery and baskets from the museum’s collection. Many types of pottery and basketry are on exhibit with multiple styles of decoration. Even two pieces from the famous Maria Martinez are on display. |
Wyoming Navy
The Wyoming Navy exhibit shows 47 different ships that were either in previous service or are currently in service to the United States Navy. Pictures and a history of each ship help to inform visitors how many ships have been in the Navy with the names of people or places in Wyoming. Artifacts from ships that are more closely related to Central Wyoming are on display along with a description of the process in which ships are named by the United States Navy. |
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Traveling Exhibits
In the Multi-Use Room
 Washakie: Through the Lens of Time
April 4, 2008 - May 11, 2008
Washakie was a leader of the Eastern Shoshones from the 1840s until his death in 1900 and today is seen by many as someone who embodied all the traits of great leadership. He is often lauded for his friendship with the whites and for having the best interests of his people as his primary motivation. This exhibit examines different images and impressions of Washakie throughout history and today. From the American Heritage Center.
 Howdy
May 16, 2008 - June 29, 2008
This exhibit considers the postcard as a communication device and advertiser of Wyoming's natural and cultural landscape. Color and black and white images illustrate how postcards have promoted Wyoming as a "vacation dreamland" and a "wonderland of the West."
From the Wyoming State Museum.
Artifact - A Cultural Geography
July 3, 2008 - mid August, 2008
This large collection of Wyoming images by photographer Mike McClure celebrates the enormous diversity of Wyoming's prehistoric and historic landscape.
From the Wyoming State Museum.
Fort Grounds
The fort buildings are part of a joint reconstruction project between the Works Progress Administration and City of Casper in 1936. The buildings were rebuilt close to the original locations using a floor plan drawn by Lieutenant Caspar Collins in the 1860s. The reconstructed post actually represents Platte Bridge Station, not the expanded Fort Caspar. In the 1980s, a replica of the Mormon ferry and a reconstructed section of the Guinard bridge were added to the grounds.
Mormon Ferry
The Mormon Pioneer Party established the first commercial ferry operation at the Upper Crossing of the North Platte River in 1847. |
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Guinard Bridge
Trader Louis Guinard established a toll bridge and trading post in 1859-1860. |
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Pacific Telegraph Company Office
In 1862, the U.S. government sent troops west to guard the transcontinental telegraph line linking the East and West Coasts. |
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Day Room
Sergeants were responsible for the day-to-day operations of the fort. |
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Infantry Barracks
Infantry soldiers were not stationed at the post until 1865. The first to arrive were “Galvanized Yankees” of the 3rd U.S. Volunteer Infantry. |
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Mess Hall
The mess hall served as both kitchen and dining room for all soldiers at this small post. |
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Cavalry Barracks
Cavalry troops established the fort in 1862. Soldiers of Company G of the 11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry manned Platte Bridge Station single-handedly from the fall of 1863 through the spring of 1865. |
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Commissary
The army provided basic food rations, uniforms, and equipment, which were distributed to soldiers from the commissary. |
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Laundry
Although laundresses were a part of the frontier army structure and assigned to specific companies of soldiers, they may not have been stationed at the post in its early years because of its small size. |
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Lieutenants’ Quarters
Lieutenant Henry C. Bretney of Company G, 11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, commanded the post from the fall of 1863 into the summer of 1865. |
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Captain’s Quarters
The 6th U.S. Volunteer Infantry soldiers joined the 3rd at Platte Bridge Station in the fall of 1865. |
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Major’s Quarters
Major Martin Anderson of the 11th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry was in command of the post during the two battles between soldiers and Native Americans in July 1865. |
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Blacksmith Shop
The blacksmith served the needs of the troops at the post, along with the emigrants and others traveling the trails. |
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Sutler’s Store
The sutler was a trader authorized by the army to set up a store on fort grounds. The sutler’s store served as a social center for soldiers and offered goods not normally available from the army commissary. |
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Cemetery
This is a memorial cemetery with headstones for several soldiers from the 11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry who died while serving in the West.
Carriage Shed
The Carriage Shed exhibits the Museum’s collection of wagons and other transportation vehicles from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Centennial Park
Centennial Park was added to the Museum grounds in 1990 to commemorate the Wyoming State Centennial. The park includes a “History Walk,” a series of interpretive signs detailing the history of central Wyoming, and a Signature Cabin, a building displaying photographs and student signatures from all Natrona County schools in 1990. Picnic shelters, grills, and playground equipment round out the park.
Centennial Park and other areas of the site are available for rental for weddings, family reunions, and other gatherings. Call 307-235-8462 or email for more information or to make a reservation.
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