Fort Fred Steele

In 1868, laborers were hard at work building the Union Pacific portion of the transcontinental railroad. In Wyoming, the U.S. government established three outposts to protect work crews and blossoming communities along the railroad route. Named after the Union General Frederick Steele of the 20th U.S. Infantry, Fort Fred Steele was one such military post. After the railroad was complete, Fort Fred Steele remained an important settlement on the rail line since it provided protection for the vulnerable railroad bridge across the North Platte River. By 1886, however, the fort closed and the town of Fort Steele became quiet until the construction of the Lincoln Highway during the first part of the 20th century. Until it was rerouted to the present location of Interstate 80, the Lincoln Highway took motorists straight through the middle of Fort Fred Steele. Today, visitors to the fort can walk along an interpretive trail and see the remnants of two large warehouses, the officer’s quarters, and the powder magazine, the only fully intact structure remaining.