The History of Casper Wyoming. This video is about the rich history of Casper and Wyoming, highlighting key historical events and landmarks. Casper, the second-largest city in Wyoming, played a significant role in the westward expansion of the United States. The area was frequented by Native American tribes, mountain men, and traders in the 1800s. Wyoming became a territory in 1868 and was the first in the country to grant women the right to vote in 1869. The North Platte River valley, where Casper was formed, served as a crucial pathway for trails like the Oregon Trail, California Trail, and Mormon Pioneer Trail. Fort Caspar, originally a military post, became a museum commemorating the area’s pioneer history. The discovery of oil in the nearby Salt Creek Oil Field in the early 20th century led to Casper’s growth as “The Oil City.” Casper also became a cultural center and experienced growth during World War II. Today, Casper is a vibrant city with museums, art galleries, parks, and proximity to natural wonders like Yellowstone National Park and Devils Tower National Monument.
Casper is the second largest city in the state and is the county seat of Natrona County. We are so lucky to have an amazing rich history, and as a result, we have some amazing museums here in Casper. If you wanna check out our history in more detail, come visit one of our many museums. Whether you visit the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center, Fort Caspar, the Mormon Handcart Historic Site, or any of several others.
If you want even more history checkout the Tate Geological Museum to learn a little bit more about Wyoming’s really early inhabitants, dinosaurs. I’m not going to go back quite that far in my little history lesson. I’m going to start in the 1800s. Even before Wyoming became an official territory, this area was frequented by many travelers on their way West. Of course, several Native American tribes called this area their home long before and during the 1800s and beyond. Mountain man and traders also frequented this area. Wyoming wasn’t even Wyoming back then, and of course some of the land wasn’t part of the United States yet. The territory that eventually became Wyoming was gained by the U.S. throughout the early to mid 1800s through various land treaties. It wasn’t until 1868 that Congress formed the territory of Wyoming by carving out portions of Dakota, Utah, and Ohio.
One of Wyoming’s most important contributions to the United States also came before Wyoming became a state. In 1869, Wyoming was the first in our country to grant women the right to vote. At that time, Wyoming wasn’t an official state. When considering becoming a state, the law allowing women to vote was an issue. But the government and the people of Wyoming stood up and said that if the law wouldn’t stand, then Wyoming wouldn’t become a state. At that time, men outnumbered women 6 to 1, and many thought that women’s right to vote was established as a ploy to get more women to move to the territory. Whatever the reason, it had a profound effect on Wyoming and later to the United States. Many discussed the importance of this right to vote and it is an extremely important part of our history. Another important part of the law was the ability for women to hold office. The early victory in Wyoming for women’s suffrage helped pave the way for women’s voting rights throughout the country. This is how Wyoming earned its nickname as “The Equality State”.
In real estate they say, “Location is everything,” and Casper is no exception. The North Platte River valley where Casper was eventually formed was part of the pathway involving many trails leading from the more subtle parts of America through to the West. These trails include the Oregon Trail, the California Trail, and the Mormon Pioneer Trail. Through the connection to these famous trails and their importance to travelers as they cross the country, Casper and Wyoming contributed to the rich history of the West and to the history, growth, and development of the entire United States. Casper was home to one of the major river crossings along all these trails. Westbound travelers followed the Platte River to our area, with one party from Nebraska, led by Brigham Young, arriving as early as 1847 to the area now known as Fort Caspar. There a ferry boat was built allowing these pioneers to cross the river as they continued on their way towards South Pass. This ferry operated for about five years. Eventually, in 1852, a more permanent crossing known as the “Reshaw’s Bridge” was built by John Baptiste Richard called “Reshaw”. This crossing became popular causing conflicts between the pioneers and the Native Americans of the area. A military fort called Camp Davis was established at the site of the Reshaw’s Bridge. The Guinard Bridge was built in 1859 where the post at Platte Bridge Station was established. In November of 1865, the name of Platte Bridge Station was changed to honor Caspar Collins. And although his name was inadvertently misspelled, that is now known as Fort Caspar, a military post near the site of the Pioneer Crossing on the Oregon Trail and the Pony Express route. It was named after Lieutenant Caspar Collins who was killed by Native Americans near that post the same year. Fort Caspar’s usefulness faded as the Union Pacific Railroad finally made its way across Wyoming into the Cheyenne area. With another more reliable and safer traveling method available, the trail system became less utilized. The fort was eventually abandoned as a military post in 1867, but the area remained a strategic location for travelers and settlers, and eventually became home to one of our favorite local museums. Around the same time, President Lincoln signed the Free Homestead Act of 1862, leading to a significant influx of residents into the area. In the late 1800s, the area was full of large cattle companies that were funded from outside sources. Over time, smaller private landowners overtook the larger companies. As more railroad tracks were laid, the transportation in and out of Wyoming grew, expanding the population in the process, and of course, the various industries in the area grew as well. In June of 1888, the original area of what was to become the town, and later the city of Casper, was established by developers who anticipated that it would become a stopping point for the Wyoming Central Railway. Casper soon became an important shipping point for cattle and wool and a commercial rival to other nearby towns. Casper was incorporated as a town in 1889 and officially became a city in 1917.
Speaking of industries, did you know that Wyoming’s first refinery was built in Casper in 1895? Our economy boomed in the early 20th century with the discovery of oil in the nearby Salt Creek Oil Field. Casper became known as the oil city and attracted thousands of workers and entrepreneurs who built refineries, pipelines, and businesses, thus beginning the long history of Wyoming’s economic ties to natural resources. Pretty soon, there were three different refineries here. In the late 1800s, early 1900s, Casper grew to be the hub of the oil and gas industry in the Rocky Mountain region. National resources are still very important to the entire state of Wyoming and important to our contribution to America as a whole. Casper also became a cultural center with theaters, hotels, newspapers, and radio stations. Many of the original buildings in our downtown area, with their wonderful character, remain in use today. Casper’s growth continued during World War II where an army Air Corps training base was established near the city. After the war, Casper College was founded in 1945 as one of the first community colleges in Wyoming. Casper has also diversified its economy with industries such as agriculture, tourism, and healthcare. Today, Casper is a vibrant and modern city that offers a variety of attractions and amenities for residents and visitors. Casper is home not only two amazing museums, but also art galleries, parks, trails, golf courses, ski areas, and more. Casper is also close to natural wonders, such as Yellowstone National Park, Devils Tower, National Monument, and the North Platte River. There is so much history to explore in and around Casper. I hope you take the time to check out some of our amazing museums to help give you the full picture and the connections we have to the history of our country. Casper is a city that celebrates its history and embraces its future. It truly is a city that has something for everyone. Thank you for watching our videos. Please be sure to subscribe so you know every single time we drop a video. We love talking with all of you, so reach out to us, and if you’re looking for the perfect home we know houses in Casper. We want you to love where you live. See you soon.