Expeditions

John Colter, who was a member of the Lewis and Clark expedition, left the group to become a free trapper. He was the first white man to set foot in the territory around 1807. He trapped east and south of what is now Yellowstone National Park. About 1811, an expedition led by Wilson Hunt crossed through Wyoming to the Columbia River to start the American Fur trade. They went around the Big horn Mountains, through Union pass and then into Idaho via the Snake River Valley. In 1812, some of the same group came back through Wyoming led by Robert Stuart. This group passed near South Pass going eastbound along the North Platte River.

Fur Trappers

Fur trappers continued to trap in eastern Wyoming. It wasn't until 1824 that the continental divide was crossed again. The party was led by Thomas Fitzpatrick. They were seeking new grounds to trap. Fitzpatrick is credited with discovering South Pass. From 1825-40, which is commonly referred to as the era of mountain men, a fur trade rendezvous was held in Wyoming. Native Americans, Fur traders and employees of the St. Louis Fur companies would meet to exchange furs for supplies. It as a huge annual social event. In 1834, Fort Laramie was built near the Laramie and North Platte Rivers in eastern Wyoming. The Fort served as a center for the fur trade until 1849 when the US government bought the fort for military use.

Westward Travel

The first wagon train crossed Wyoming in 1841 via the Oregon Trail. In 1847, the Mormons followed the Oregon trail a ways then headed southwest past Fort Bridger.

In 1849, the California gold rush started and the 49ers crossed through Wyoming via the Oregon trail, then headed southwest after reaching Idaho towards California.

In 1851, the first stagecoach line followed the Oregon trail through Wyoming. This began a monthly service to Salt Lake City. The pony express was established in 1861 and used the same route. In 1861, the first telegraph line to the Pacific coast crossed through Wyoming along the same way.

A daily stagecoach line from Atchison Kansas to San Francisco began traveling the trail in 1858. by 1862, Shoshone and Sioux Indian hostilities made it necessary to move the stage line to a southern route. The Union Pacific Railway was built in this area of Wyoming.

A stagecoach ran from Deadwood SD to Cheyenne. This stagecoach was harassed by Indian war parties and bandits. The route went through the Black Hills and was treacherous. It is portrayed in the movie, Stagecoach, starring Red Buttons.

Fort Reno, Ft. Phil Kearny and Fort CF Smith were built on the hunting grounds of the Sioux. These forts were built to keep the Bozeman Road to Montana gold mines open. This increased hostilities. In 1866, troops were ambushed near Fort Phil Kearny. Killing all. War continued until 1868 when Red Cloud signed a peace treaty.

In 1876, Army campaigns cleared northern Wyoming of hostile Indian tribes making it safer for settlement.

The territory of Wyoming was organized to protect and govern settlements along the railway. It was called the Wyoming Organic Act and approved in 1868. However, the territorial government was not inaugurated until 1869. Cheyenne was appointed the territorial capital.

Most of the population lived in towns that were in southern Wyoming along the Union Pacific railroad.

gold was discovered in 1867 and 1868 which drew settlers into the South Pass area.

the first land office was established in Cheyenne in 1870. the first homestead entry was entered in 1871.

Range Wars 1880 s

Buffalo grass proved to be an excellent cattle feed both in winter and summer. The grass was nutritious enough in itself as not to need additional feed. Cattle could graze close to the railway on open range. When ready for market, they only needed to put them on a train. Wasn't long until herds from Texas were driven to Wyoming. The state had a large cattle industry by the 1880 s. The trouble set in.

Rustlers stole a lot of the cattle. A bad winter killed off one sixth of the cattle. The governor from 1887-89 wanted the open range to be broken up into small farms. Cattlemen blamed rustling for their losses. The courts could not convict those accused of cattle rustling so the cattlemen took the law into their own hands. In 1892, a group of about 50 armed men set out from Cheyenne to Johnson country. They had a list of men to kill. After 2 of these men were killed, a larger group of men led by a sheriff set out to stop the killings. The US army arrived and put a stop to the wars.

As cattle raising declined sheep herding increased. A long feud between cattlemen and sheepherders began. Cattlemen claimed that cattle would not graze where sheep had been. They drew boundaries where sheep could not go. Sheepherders who crossed those boundaries did so at their own risk. There were several cases where sheep and herders were killed and wagons burned. Attacks stopped after 1909 when some cattlemen were convicted and sent to prison for the murder of a few sheepherders.

Historic Sites, Landmarks and Forts

There are over 450 historic markers throughout the state.

Most every town has a museum with information on the history of that area

Devils Tower National Landmark

Yellowstone National Park

Stagecoach Museum at Lusk

Fort Laramie is located in the eastern part of the state. It was once a fur trading post (1834-49) and then a military post (1849-90).

Fort Bridger located in southwestern Wyoming, was established in 1842. It was once a stage coach stop and a military station. The Post traders store (1843) is now a museum and the site is a state park.

Independence Rock located in central Wyoming, 55 miles southwest of Casper, is where pioneers going west inscribed their names onto the rock. Most are still readable. They also carved their names at Register Cliff near Guernsey.

South Pass is located in West central Wyoming and is the gateway to the west.

For more information see Tourism.