You can visit the actual place emigrants, U.S. Army soldiers and Native Americans once traveled, worked and met.
Fort Laramie National Historic Site preserves and interprets one of America’s most important locations in the history of westward expansion — hosting emigrants from the Oregon, Mormon and California trails — and Native American resistance. Begin your tour at the visitor center located in the restored 1884 Commissary Storehouse with an 18-minute orientation film before entering the museum and browsing the bookstore. Transport yourself in time during the summer as you walk around the grounds and see staff members and volunteers in period dress bring history alive. You’ll hear bugle calls while exploring 12 restored buildings from 1849 to the late 1880s, continuing across the fort to see more ruins. Your adventure can continue to a hike on a trail that leads from the Old Iron Bridge to the confluence of the Platte and Laramie Rivers, where spectacular views and a variety of birds and other wildlife are found.
Fort Laramie was the largest and best-known military outpost on the Northern Plains. It hosted many treaty negotiations with the Northern Plains Indian Nations and also functioned as a vital hub for transportation and communication across the central Rocky Mountain region, serving as a stop along the Pony Express route, stagecoach lines and more.
Fort Laramie was located at the confluence of the Laramie and North Platte rivers in southeast Wyoming.
Yellowstone National Park is famous for being the first national park in the woThe best time to visit Fort Laramie depends on your personal preferences and interests. Summer is a popular season for travelers, but the days can get quite hot, as Fort Laramie is located in the warmest part of Wyoming. Spring and fall bring vibrant foliage and blooming wildflowers, along with milder weather and fewer crowds.
While Fort Laramie itself doesn’t offer horseback riding, there are outfitters and ranches in Laramie and Centennial, Wyoming, that offer excursions like guided trail rides.
Yes, visitors are allowed to take photos inside the buildings at Fort Laramie. Those interested in commercial photography or filming must apply for a permit.