History:

Fort Fred Steele was established on June 20, 1868, and occupied until August 7, 1886, by soldiers who were sent by the U.S. Government to guard the railroad against attack from Indians.

Colonel Richard I Dodge, selected this site on the west bank of the North Platte River, named the fort for Major General Frederick Steele, 20th U.S. Infantry, a Civil War hero. Although the fort at first resembled a tent city the quartermaster quickly built the fort according to Army specifications by using local materials and labor. In fact, many of the 300 troops received extra pay for their help with this effort. Key civilians who were also employed at the post included a sawmill engineer, blacksmith, saddler and wheelwright. Like many other frontier outposts, the military relied, too, upon a licensed trader or sutler to supply fresh produce and mercantile goods for its personnel and dependents. After the Indian threat had passed, the War Department deactivated the post leaving only a guard to oversee this federal property.

The construction of the transcontinental Union Pacific Railroad across southern Wyoming in 1867-1869, in turn, brought the cattlemen, sheepherders, loggers, tie hacks, miners and merchants who in turn ushered in the modern era of the automobile and the mighty Lincoln Highway all of which played a part in changing the Wyoming Territory into the 44th state in the Union.