Fort Bridger was a minor army post circa 1857-1890 along the Pony Express, telegraph and transcontinental railroad and adjacent westward pioneer and commercial routes which evolved into today's Interstate 80. The fort, abandoned circa 1890 is now a Wyoming state historical site with buildings preserved or restored and very nicely interpreted.
The 1880 guardhouse includes a musket/rifle rack in the guard room where the guard detachment of the day stayed during their period of duty when not on a guard post somewhere. This is virtually identical to the military guard rooms dating back to the late 1600s, with a large sloping platform where the guard would rest, fully clothed, and a rack nearby for their arms.
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Their museum has a variety of exhibits, one including several trapdoors:
- Bridger TD.jpg (47.72 KiB) Viewed 162 times
They have a fantastic example of the 1.65 inch Hotchkiss Mountain Gun which was widely used int he later Indian War campaigns, with the associated pack saddles and ammunition.
- Bridger Hotchkiss.jpg (76.94 KiB) Viewed 162 times
Well worth a visit as you get to western Wyoming on I-80.
