How many of you have dreamed of being a Pioneer - one of those brave people that crossed the continent to settle in the west? I can not lie - I have thought of it ... but now that I know how hard it was... I am a fan of electricity and running water hah!!!
We took a few hours to step back in time at Fort Laramie ( Wyoming) and it was awesome!!! I love reading westerns, and I love hearing how tough people were - but getting a chance to see what life was really like.... amazing!!
Sit back... this is FULL of photos!!
Fort Laramie was first a Fur Trading Post, and then it became a Military Outpost. It was right on the Oregon/California/Mormon trail so many travelers would stop there. There are huge fields around it that people would set up camp, and restock before heading west .
The Stage Lines, The Pony Express and Transcontinental Telegraph lines all passed through here.
This is the Single Soldier Bunkhouse. Its actually very large!
The Fort Began in 1834, and in 1849 was purchased by the Military
Check out this wagon - can you imagine crossing the plain in that? Truthfully - I think if I laid down my feet would hang out the end!!
This photo ( below) is Two Bakeries - the one in the back is crumbling, the one in the front still stands.
They had Four bakeries at one time - they made one 18 ounce loaf of bread per soldier per day - with as many as 700 men at the garrison - Holee cow!!
And did I mention it is hot there? It was 102 when we were there? and Shade is a premium!
The building in front later became a school house
If I counted right - there was a Guardhouse, a Prison, and Jail... Heck fire we were bad people!!!
This is the Guardhouse ( below)
See those tiny cells? They say there were only 5 ft long, but they sure don't look very wide !! I am 5'10" how would I fit???
I am also VERY claustrophobic - I think seeing one of these cells would have put me on the straight and narrow....
This is me Standing in Front of the Guardhouse.
As we kept walking we came to another Jail cell!!!! You walked inside and man, that was rough - but check out the solitary... I threatened Puppy and K... they had better not make trouble!!
Fort Laramie is about 600-700 miles from the Missouri river - depending on where you jumped off to head west. it was one of the only Civilizations wagon trains would come upon between Ft Kearny and the west coast.
And another... this one is super cool to me!!!
This ( below) is Old Bedlam - supposedly the Oldest standing Building in Wyoming. Its called Old Bedlam because of all the Boisterous noise that came from it ! It was the Bachelors officers Quarters... you can imagine the fun time right?
Just to Prove we were there...and it was hot... we were melting. My Little dog - he is so picky - there was a fresh water bowl there for dogs, and he just looked at it and stuck his nose up. Apparently he can only drink from his water bowl... stinker
THis is what remains of the Old Post Hospital. One would think that with as many jails as there were, and as many wagon trains, Indian raids and just general sickness the Hospital would have been bigger.
This was actually the third location of a hospital on post, and they built this one over a cemetery - so before they could begin building they had to reinter 6 marked graves. Others they worked around, and were left there.
It was a 12 bed facility. in the late 1880's they installed a phone line, so they could actually call the post doctor if needed. it was the only hospital within 100 miles ( in 1880) so they also treated civilians for $1 per day.
Looking at the major part of the post from the Hospital location.
I just thought that was a cool view.
So if you are ever traveling through this area - I would highly recommend a stop. Its pretty cool to see life the way it was, and imagine what traveling would be like. And again - be grateful for modern conveniences!
Linking to:
My Corner of the World
Through My Lens Sharons Souveniers
