Casper, on the North Platte River, is now the chief town in an area given up to agriculture and the oil industry. It is named after Lieutenant Caspar Collins, who tried to rescue a group of settlers beset by Indians on the Oregon Trail in 1865. Something of the period lives on in the reconstructed Fort Caspar on the western outskirts of the town.
The Dan Speas Fish Rearing Station was built in 1957-1959 and today impresses visitors with its production of fish. The facility produces over 800,000 fish annually across several varieties. The Dan Speas Fish Rearing Station is fed by the Goose Egg Spring that produces 6000 gallons of water per minute at a constant 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Fort Caspar Museum features exhibits about central Wyoming history including prehistoric central Wyoming, fort history, community development, the oil and gas industry, and central Wyoming agriculture. The reconstructed 1865 fort, located on the Oregon/California/Mormon/Pony Express trails, is furnished as it would have been in 1865. The location also offers a reconstructed Mormon Ferry and Guinard Toll bridge.
For those with a penchant for trying things truly authentic, Historic Trails West in Mills provides just the opportunity. This company takes travelers on wagon trips along the historic trails once used by those settling the American West. The trails traveled are the Oregon Trail, the California Trail, the Gold Rush Trail, and the Pony Express Trail.
The Nicolaysen Art Museum and Discovery Center located in Casper has over 25,000 square feet of display space. Here visitors will find a wide range of contemporary art from the Rockies and High Plains area. The museum also hosts traveling exhibits of national and international artists and a gift shop is on the premises.
Located in Casper, the Tate Geological Museum is located on the campus of Casper College. The collection is primarily composed of geological specimens, with a focus on Jade. Also of note are the displays of dinosaur fossils.
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