All of the major historic trails passed through or near Casper, which is way the Center is located here. The trails followed the North Platte and Sweetwater Rivers and then to the <a href="http://enjoyyourparks.com/South-Pass-Wyoming.html" target="_blank">South Pass</a>, which is a mostly flat area in southwest Wyoming that traverses the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_Divide_of_the_Americas" target="_blank">Continental Divide</a>. First recorded by fur trader Robert Stuart in 1812, the pass is the only point where settlers could safely cross the Rocky Mountains (the Lewis and Clark Expedition made the crossing farther north in the Bitterroot Mountains and barely survived). From the South Pass, settlers parted ways and headed to Oregon, Utah, or California. The South Pass was critical for the growth of the United States; without it, Britain may have permanently claimed some areas in the Northwest, and the Southwest may have remained in possession of Mexico. It is estimated that around a half a million people traveled west through the South Pass corridor during the 19th century. In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed The National Trails System Act into law, which protects the western overland trails and many others.

The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center opened in 2002.

The Pony Express statue was created by artist and Utah native Avard Tennyson Fairbanks.

National Historic Trails Interpretive Center

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Click to download a map of historic trails in Wyoming (note: the file is large)

Opened in 2002, the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center is dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of the historic trails that led settlers into the West. Through its exhibits and educational programs, the Center's mission is to enhance the understanding of Western expansion. The permanent exhibits explore the Oregon Trail, the California Trail, the Mormon Pioneer Trail, and the Pony Express Trail (the mail service where horse riders delivered mail and other items to the west and back). The exhibits feature hands-on activities and multi-media programs. Another highlight is the "The Pony Express" statue located outside which depicts two Pony Express riders, one of whom is riding a horse and the other standing next to his horse.

This trail is a work in progress... please check back soon. 

Casper Wyoming Heritage Trail

The Casper Planetarium was founded in 1966 and offers a variety of educational and entertainment programming about astronomy. When it opened, the planetarium had what was then a state-of-the-art projector called the art Spitz star machine. This operated until 2006, when it was decided, after the planetarium's 40th anniversary, that a new one was needed. The new Konica-Minolta Mediaglobe was installed soon after thanks the support of two education foundations. It was the world's first all dome, color, and single projector planetarium system. 

Casper Planetarium

Casper was officially founded in the late 1880s and during the first years, volunteer fire fighters served the city. In return for their service, the city allowed them to be exempt from jury duty and did not charge them for the water used at their homes. They eventually bought their fire fighting equipment as well. As the population kept growing, it became apparent that the city needed a firefighting department, which the city established in in 1917. The station was built a few years later in 1921. Its construction was significant in that reflected the growing need for fire protection as the city grew. In 1942, the building became the department headquarters and later designated as Fire Station #2. It is not clear when the department left the building, but it appears that for a time it housed antique firefighting equipment.

Erected in 1921, the former Casper Fire Department Station No. 1 is a historic fire station that was constructed at a time when the city was rapidly expanding. The leading local architecture firm Garbutt, Weidner and Sweeney designed it in the Late Gothic Revival style with decorative terra cotta and other ornamental features. The building was added to the National register of Historic Places in 1993. Today, it is home to an architecture firm.


Casper Fire Department Station No. 1

The first St. Anthony's Church was built in 1898 and was a wood-frame building. A group of local Irish women started a fundraising campaign in 1897, which was successful, prompting the Bishop of the Catholic Church in Wyoming to form a building committee. Construction got underway in March 1898 and was completely shortly thereafter (it was not a big building). The congregation was comprised of largely Irish immigrants who had arrived in Wyoming in significant numbers by the 1880s to work in the cattle industry. The cattle industry declined in the 1880s as a result of blizzards and overgrazing, so the residents switched to raising sheep for wool. Sheep ranching soon became a prosperous industry and made Casper a major wool shipping center for the region. Oil was also discovered in what is now called the Salt Creek Oilfield, which attracted even more Irish immigrants (other immigrants, including Italians, Scotts, Slavs, and Germans came to Casper as well).By 1915, the first church building had become too small for the growing congregation. Funds were raised in the coming years and construction began for the present structure in 1919. The congregation later added a school in 1927, an addition in 1949 to the school, a new convent in 1955, and renovated the basement in 1970.

Built in 1920, Saint Anthony of Padua Church (also known as the Church of Saint Anthony) is significant as a fine example Romanesque Revival architecture. Local architect Arthur M. Garbutt, who led a firm in Casper that designed many buildings in the early 20th century, designed the church with semi-circular arched windows, a bell tower, decorative brickwork, and other elements. The tower resembles those found in Italy as evidenced by its square shape, arched windows, and tile roof. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

Saint Anthony of Padua Church

The museum's origins go back to 1964 when a group of friends hosted a small&nbsp;art show. From this humble beginning came&nbsp;the Central Wyoming Art Museum, which opened in a former bus station. Finally, in 1990 the museum moved into the renovated former power station called the Mountain States Power Company. The museum began collecting art in 1984 and initially its emphasis was broad but gradually its focus&nbsp;shifted towards the&nbsp;Rocky Mountain region.&nbsp;

The Nicolaysen Art Museum is located in Casper, Wyoming. It is housed in an old power station that was built in 1924. It has over 7,000 square feet of space for exhibit galleries and educational programming. It contains over 6,000 art objects, including paintings, photographs, sculptures, and prints. The museum's collection focuses on contemporary art of the Rocky Mountain region, the only museum in the state to do so. In addition to its educational programming, the museum holds an art festival each year and live music concerts on Wednesday nights. It is one of six Wyoming museums to be accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

The Nicolaysen Art Museum

Casper's early beginnings started with the Oregon-California Trail. It is located along the North Platte River and the surrounding area was flat and therefore good riding terrain for wagons. Travelers on the trail first crossed the river on a ferry and eventually then bridges were built. The railroad followed later as well as Fort Casper. All of these factors laid the groundwork for Casper's development. 
Marvin Bishop and his family moved to Casper in 1892. He was appointed postmaster by President Grover Cleveland and helped stabilize the post office there which, in turn, helped the city. When his term ended got into the sheep ranching and then woolgrowing business. He was very successful and his earnings allowed him to build the house. Bishop died in 1939 and his wife in 1948. Their youngest daughter lived there from her birth in 1908 to 1997 when she passed away. It is not clear when the Cadoma Foundation acquired the property.&nbsp;

Constructed in 1907, the Bishop House is a historic home in Casper, Wyoming. It was built Marvin Bishop, who was an important figure in the city's early development, and designed by Elias N. Miller in the Colonial Revival style. The house is now owned and operated by the Cadoma Foundation, which is dedicated to preserving historic places in Wyoming. The house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. Today, the foundation hosts several events at the house including tea gatherings. 

Bishop House

Although settlers began to arrive in the Casper area in the 1840s (many would pass through following trails westward), the city was not officially established until the late 1880s when the Chicago and North Western Railroad company built a line here from Nebraska. Casper became the region's commercial center where settlers could ship agricultural and livestock products. However, it wasn't until oil was discovered in the 1910s in the nearby Salt Creek Oilfield that Casper started to grow significantly.It was in this context that the Grant Street Market was built. The influx of residents prompted the construction of commercial establishments, including grocery stores, where residents could easily walk to. Grant Street Market is the only one of 60 neighborhood grocery stores left that were built in the early 20th century. It remains an important focal point for the surrounding community.

Founded in 1921 during an oil boom, the Grant Street Grocery and Market is a historic store situated in a residential area in Casper. Ever since its opening, it has maintained its neighborhood market feel. In terms of architecture, the building exhibits an early 20th-century commercial design. While successive owners have made some changes to the building (such as expanding the back of the store), the front facade on Grant Avenue has remained largely unchanged from its original appearance and the store retains many of its original fixtures. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. 

Grant Street Grocery and Market

The Werner Wildlife Museum is operated by Casper College and is located near the campus. The building was constructed in 1964 by Herman Werner, who wanted a place to house his trophy collection. He donated the building and collection to Casper College in 1970. The museum focuses primarily on Wyoming wildlife but also has animals from around the world. The collection grew from 36 specimens to almost 400. The museum serves as a resource center and is available to use as a multi-purpose classroom for various education programs. Guided tours are available by appointment.

Werner Wildlife Museum

The State Military Board appropriated money to build the armory in 1927 and it was finished three years later. It was two-stories tall and roughly 125 feet wide and 184 feet long. Other events were held here including dances and polo matches. Another interesting anecdote is that a sick elephant from a traveling circus was housed here to recuperate.The 115th Regiment remained at the armory until after the Korean War. In its place, the HHB 3rd Battalion 49th FA moved in and occupied the armory until the 1970s. Casper College then used it as a maintenance facility until the city razed it in 1987. The monument is made with bricks from the building.

Between 1930-1987, this was the site of the Casper Armory, a facility occupied by the Headquarters Troop of the 115th Cavalry Regiment of the National Guard. The site consists of the historical marker and a brick monument with a bronze model of the armory on top. The armory was a rather large building; it had an indoor field where horses and guardsmen and women trained, horse stalls, a Blacksmith shop, a wagon shop, and an equipment room. The second level had a hayloft, a viewing area, and a ballroom. The city demolished the building in 1987 to facilitate better traffic access to Casper College. 

Historical Marker: Casper Armory

The museum one of few geology and paleontology museums in the state. It contains around 3,000 bones and mineral specimens. Perhaps its most well-known specimen is the "Dee Mammoth," named after the man who found the bones. Dee is thought to be the oldest (11,600 years old) and most complete Columbian Mammoth ever found.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Tate Geological Museum is located on the Casper College Campus in Casper, Wyoming. It was founded in 1980 with a gift from Marion and Inez Tate. It was originally named the Tate Earth Science Center and Mineralogical Museum but it was decided that the term 'geological' covers earth science, mineralogy, and paleontology so the current name was adopted. 
  

Casper Wyoming Heritage Trail

National Historic Trails Interpretive Center

Introduction

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Backstory and Context

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