Field Piece

Only the names have changed. Old Fort Laramie was first Fort William, then Fort John, long before it would take its final given name, Fort Laramie,... more

by Jon Burch Photography

Title

Field Piece

Artist

Jon Burch Photography

Medium

Photograph - Digital Capture

Description

Only the names have changed. Old Fort Laramie was first Fort William, then Fort John, long before it would take its final given name, Fort Laramie, in 1849. The original outpost was established, and built, by legendary trappers and fur traders, Bill Sublette and Robert Campbell, in 1834. It was the first permanent settlement in the state of Wyoming.

Then, Fort William became Fort John in 1841. The site was purchased by the American Fur Company, and named after John Sarpy, a major partner in the company. There were adobe walls and structures added, and it would function as a growing gathering spot for trappers and traders. In the years before the Great Migration, those trappers and traders, and the Plains Indians co-existed peacefully.

Image copyright 2015 Jon Burch Photography

Uploaded

July 15th, 2015