Well, they're not really secrets, just
history that most visitors might miss. I hope this gives you quite a
few reasons to visit us this year, beside the fact that Fort Laramie
National Historic Site no longer charges entrance fees!
Ghost Sign
Can
you see the words right above the bench? It's an old, faded sign or
what is referred to as a "ghost sign" on our Visitor Center building
that says, "Use Sheridan Coal - Joe Wilde Proprietor". It was put on
the Commissary building during the Homestead Era by Joe Wilde who
operated a hardware store from the building.
(Photo: Fort Laramie NHS, Charles Downey Collection)
This enhanced, historic photograph of the Commissary building shows the sign very clearly.
Graffiti From the 1880s
Private
W.B. Mooney of Company F, 7th Infantry, signed his name to the inside
wall of the Commissary building in the late 1880s. Right below Mooney's
inscription is a place where Fort Laramie visitors can make their own
mark -- our Register of National Park Visitors book.
Private
Mooney must have had a lot of time on his hands because he also signed
his name to the staircase that goes down into the basement of the
Commissary building. This signature is in part of the building that
isn't accessible to visitors, but you get to see it here in the
e-Bugler!
Vintage Mechanical Doorbell
The
Burt House has an old-fashioned mechanical doorbell -- it works without
electricity. You just turn it and it rings. The upper right photo is
on the outside of the door and the lower right photo is on the inside of
the door. See it in action in the video below. You can also view it on
YouTube.
More Graffiti from 1926
In
1926 the fort was no longer a military post but came back to life when
the 4th U.S. Cavalry encamped here for their summer maneuvers. During
that encampment someone from the Cavalry painted this soldier on the
wall of the Cavalry Barracks. It is located on the east side of the
building between the two doors on the north end. It's hard to see, but
this enhanced photo looks like the soldier might be on a horse. What do
you think?
Since there are still many more secrets to share, you'll have to look for another "Fort Laramie Secrets" post in the future.