Fort Laramie - Fort Laramie National Historic Site Attractions

Two hours' drive north-east of Cheyenne, at the junction of the Laramie River with the North Platte River, is Fort Laramie, founded in 1834 as a fur-trading post. The fort was taken over by the United States Army in 1849 in order to protect the Oregon Trail. Throughout the next 40 years Fort Laramie played a key role in the Indian Wars. From there troops could be sent out against the Indians, and there too treaties were signed with them. In the late 1880s the fort increasingly lost its military importance, and finally was abandoned. Some of the buildings are well preserved or have been restored, including the guardhouse, the cavalry barracks, the bakery and some officers' houses. On some summer weekends, particularly around July 4th, there are "living history" presentations.