Fort Laramie National Historic Site

Fort Laramie National Historic Site The Crossroads of the American West. Fort Laramie National Historic Site in southeastern Wyoming recalls the epic days of the frontier West.
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From 1834 to 1890, forts on this site were important centers of trade, diplomacy, and warfare on the northern Plains. Some of the most vivid figures of expanding America passed this way: trappers, fur traders, missionaries, overland emigrants, Pony Express riders, stage drivers, cowboys, homesteaders, soldiers, and Plains Indians. We welcome your comments and hope that our conversations here will

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Our schedule for this living history weekend is here! Starting this Friday, we will have the fort alive once again with ...
08/05/2026

Our schedule for this living history weekend is here! Starting this Friday, we will have the fort alive once again with soldiers, civilians, and everyone else that once called this military post home.

Friday August 7th
7:00pm: Army Camp is set up and ready.

Saturday August 8th
8:45am: Artist and Photography are recommended to arrive by for the guard mount
9:00am: Guard mount, flag raising, cannon firing at Parade Grounds
10:00am: Drill
10:30am: Junior Ranger Kids Drill
11:30am: Small arms demonstration
12:30pm: Cannon firing
1:00pm: Fatigue detail
2:00pm: Drill Bayonet
2:30pm: Small arms demonstration
3:00pm: Recall from drill
3:30pm: Junior Ranger drill
5:00pm: Dinner
6:00pm: Flag retreat & cannon demonstration
6:30pm: Ranger Program
7:30pm: Ranger Program
8:30pm: Lantern tour

Sunday August 9th
8:45am: Artist and Photography are recommended to arrive by for the guard mount
9:00am: Guard mount, flag raising, cannon firing at Parade Grounds
10:00am: Drill
10:30am: Junior Ranger Kids Drill
11:30am: Small arms demonstration

Need more information? Click the link here to go to our calendar events page. https://www.nps.gov/fola/planyourvisit/calendar.htm

Image Credit: NPS

We are very happy to host the Fords Independent Company for this year's Circle of Fire living history event! The Fords I...
08/04/2026

We are very happy to host the Fords Independent Company for this year's Circle of Fire living history event! The Fords Independent Company is an interpretive living history group based in Colorado and has members in 11 Western states.

Structured as a “Campaigner” group they strive for historical accuracy, which is supported by extensive research in portraying their 19th century historical counterparts that ventured west in the 1850-1860s, seeking their fame and riches in the Colorado goldfields rush of 1859.

The group regularly participates in various historical events, battle reenactments and presents presentations to both public and private civic groups.
Members of the group come from all walks of life and backgrounds and work together towards their common goal and their love for our nation's rich history.

Image Credit: Rob Barnes

Our historic lantern tours are fast approaching! To reserve your spot for this Saturday, August 8th, please call us at 3...
08/03/2026

Our historic lantern tours are fast approaching! To reserve your spot for this Saturday, August 8th, please call us at 307-837-2221 or email us at [email protected]. Or stop by the visitor center. Visitors can choose from 8:30, 8:45, or 9:00pm and the tours will last about 45 minutes to one hour!

Image Credit: NPS

The stories of the West exploded with popularity throughout the 1800s, thanks to the Mountain Men. The unbelievable true...
07/30/2026

The stories of the West exploded with popularity throughout the 1800s, thanks to the Mountain Men. The unbelievable true stories about men such as John Colter, David Crockett, Kit Carson, and Jim Bridger, allowed many more people to grow as myths and legends in the minds of the American public. Their ability to navigate harsh terrain and retell their difficult situations, grew the image and stories of the West.

Learn about some these men and the myths and legends that grew out of the West during our Fur Trade Event on Friday, July 31st at 8:00pm. Sit around the fire and explore the park in the evening as you listen to park rangers and fur trappers alike tell different stories of America!

Image Credit: Library of Congress

Fort Laramie National Historic Site News Release“Champagne & Beaver Pelts: The Birth of Fort Laramie’s Fur Trade Era”For...
07/29/2026

Fort Laramie National Historic Site News Release

“Champagne & Beaver Pelts: The Birth of Fort Laramie’s Fur Trade Era”

Fort Laramie National Historic Site Celebrates the 1830s Fur Trade: Special Event July 31 (afternoon)–August 1, 2026

Fort Laramie, Wyoming. Fort Laramie National Historic Site will spotlight the rich history of the 1830s Fur Trade on Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1, 2026. On Friday afternoon, July 31, historians from the American Mountain Men, an organization founded in 1968 and dedicated to telling the stories of fur trappers from the 1830s, will arrive at Fort Laramie National Historic Site. A variety of presentations will be held in the historic weapons demonstration area, north of the park’s visitor center. Please note that presentations and demonstrations may be subject to change or cancellation due to last-minute staffing constraints.

Friday, July 31:

· 1:00 P.M. Justin Beard: No Char Solar Fire Starting.

· 2:00 P.M. Steve Chin: Coffee Roasting.

· 3:00 P.M. Tom Karnuta: What’s in the Bag.

· 4:00 P.M. Plains Indian Sign Talk (Group Participation), hosted by Denny Leonard

· Evening: Fur Trade Story Telling. 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, August 1:

· 9:00 A.M. Ed Bevers: Runnin Balls.

· 10:00 A.M. Kent Smith: Trade Goods.

· 11:00 A.M. Shane Fox: Spanish Horses Used by Mountain Men and Native Americans.

· 12:00 P.M. to 1:00 P.M.: Lunch

· 1:00 P.M. Doyle Reid: Alfred Jacob Miller Art in the Rocky Mountains.

· 2:00 P.M. Scott Walker: History of Fort William/Fort Laramie.

· 3:00 P.M. Vic Barkin: Fi****ms Used in the Fur Trade.

· Evening: Early 1800s Music at 8:00 p.m.

For the latest information about the site’s programs and events, call (307) 837-2221 or visit http://www.nps.gov/fola.

Originally established as a private fur trading fort in 1834, Fort Laramie evolved into the largest and best-known military post on the Northern Plains before its abandonment in 1890. Nicknamed the “Grand Old Post,” Fort Laramie witnessed the entire sweeping saga of America’s western expansion...

This Friday and Saturday we are highlighting the history of the first fort built at Fort Laramie National Historic Site,...
07/28/2026

This Friday and Saturday we are highlighting the history of the first fort built at Fort Laramie National Historic Site, Fort William. It was built by William Sublette and other fur trappers in 1834 to trade pelts with American Indians along the Laramie and North Platte Rivers. It was made out of wood and was rather small compared to the forts that came after it. It stood until 1841 before being replaced by a new fort named Fort John.

Today, Fort William is still a little mysterious, as the definite spot of the fort is still unknown, although we do know it was close to the Laramie and North Platte Rivers. Make sure to visit this Friday or Saturday to learn more about the history of Fort William at our Fur Trade event!

Image Credit: NPS

We are one week away from our Fort William's Fur Trade Weekend at Fort Laramie National Historic Site! We will be welcom...
07/24/2026

We are one week away from our Fort William's Fur Trade Weekend at Fort Laramie National Historic Site! We will be welcoming in Mountain Men from across the nation so visitors can learn how these men and American Indians created a massive enterprise on the Great Plains. The event will include programs on Friday July 31st and Saturday August 1st.

The program schedule is below!

Friday, July 31:
1:00 P.M: No Char Solar Fire Starting
2:00 P.M. Coffee Roasting
3:00 P.M. What’s in the Bag
4:00 P.M. Plains Indian Sign Talk
7:30P.M. Story Telling of the West

Saturday, August 1:
9:00 A.M. Runnin’ Furs
10:00 A.M. Trade Goods
11:00 A.M. Spanish Horses used by Mountain Men and Native Americans
1:00 P.M. Alfred Jacob Miller Art in the Rocky Mountains
2:00 P.M. History of Fort William/Fort Laramie
3:00 P.M. Fi****ms used in the Fur Trade
7:30 P.M. Early 1800’s Live Music.

Image Credit: NPS

Fort Laramie's Circle of Fire Lantern Tour is quickly approaching! On Saturday August 8th, during our living history wee...
07/18/2026

Fort Laramie's Circle of Fire Lantern Tour is quickly approaching! On Saturday August 8th, during our living history weekend, Circle of Fire, the fort will be hosting a lantern tour of the park, filled with soldiers and civilians.

We need your help though; we need visitors to sign up ahead of time for either the 8:30pm, 8:45, or 9:00pm tours. Each tour will take about 45 minutes to an hour and are free! To save your spot for you and your family please email us at [email protected] or call us at 307-837-2221.

Image Credit: NPS
Two men at night stand together in blue soldier uniforms looking at a book while one soldier holds a lantern.

This Saturday, July 18th will be our Civilian Conservation Corp Day! During the day we will have CCC living historians a...
07/17/2026

This Saturday, July 18th will be our Civilian Conservation Corp Day! During the day we will have CCC living historians around the park as they would have been in the 1930s at Fort Laramie.

Then in the evening, starting at 8:30pm at the Surgeons Quarters, Fort Laramie staff will be playing historic films from the 1930s. The feature film starting at 9:00pm will Stagecoach (1939). The movie will be played outside, and visitors are encouraged to bring a blanket, chair, and their favorite snack!

Image: NPS
A tent set up on grass, featuring a table and chairs arranged underneath for outdoor seating.

Our night sky event is returning to Fort Laramie National Historic Site July 11th at 8:30 p.m.! Join us for a program ab...
07/06/2026

Our night sky event is returning to Fort Laramie National Historic Site July 11th at 8:30 p.m.! Join us for a program about the night sky by Casper College and enjoy the evening learning about space! We have telescopes available for visitors to use but you are more than welcome to bring your own. There is no end time for this event as the night sky changes with every passing hour!

Address

965 Gray Rocks Road
Fort Laramie, WY
82212

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