"Easy Adjunct to an I-80 Rest Stop in Wyoming" Fort Steele by atufft

Established in 1868, Fort Steele is one of three forts created to provide protection for the first transcontinental railroad. During this time Native American tribal attacks were commonplace, but unlike earlier defensive structures, Fort Steele was essentially an open barracks and arms supply depot and little more. Fort Steele was named in honor of Civil War Brevet Major General Frederick Steele, a veteran of the Mexican War who had served without great distinction during the Civil War. Steele had died in San Mateo, California in the year that Fort Steele was established. Fort Steele was decommissioned after 18 years, when the threat of Indian war had ceased.

Goats Grazing Along the North Platte River

Though a small town had thrived in this barren spot on the North Platte River, the closing of the fort meant hardship for those who remained. Sheep herding and logging by private concerns that had purchased the fort and lands from the government then took control. The Lincoln Highway turned Fort Steele into a rest stop complete with a gas station, but today, the fort is a national preserve and the I-80 rest stop, about a mile south of Fort Steele, provides little more than public restrooms for those traveling through. For those needing more than simply a quick bathroom stop, Fort Steele provides perhaps an hour's worth of exploration of historical remains, a chance encounter with goats, and a splendid view of the North Platte within the natural setting of Wyoming landscape.