City of Casper Historic Preservation Commission

09/20/2026

Indeed our 4th annual Christmas Historic Casper ornament is here! This year’s ornament features Fort Caspar!

Located on the banks of the North Platte River, Fort Caspar is a reconstructed 1860s military post situated at a vital historic crossroad. It was the location of the Mormon Ferry (1847), the 1,000 foot Platte Bridge Station bridge built by Louis Guinard (1859), and it became a major hug for the Oregon, Mormon Pioneer, California, Pony Express Trails, and the transcontinental telegraph corridor.

By the mid 1860s, the increasing number of settlers began to incite the Native Americans; therefore, the Army, in order to protect the new telegraph line, the mail service, and the emigrants traveling westward, began increasing its presence by sending a detachment to guard Guinard’s bridge.

Established in 1862, Platte Bridge Station was built at the site. Indian attacks intensified along the trails. On July 26, a group of Cheyenne and Lakota Oglala Sioux attacked an Army unit that had left the fort to es**rt a small, incoming supply train. During the attack that day, 26 soldiers, including Lt. Caspar Collins, were killed and several were wounded.

Later the fort was expanded and renamed Fort Casper in Collin’s honor, but misspelling his first name. The fort remained in operation for two more years until construction of the Union Pacific Railroad across greater Wyoming, and removal of the telegraph line to the southern route. The fort buildings were dismantled for reuse at Fort Fetterman.

In 1936, the fort was reconstructed by local workers hired with funds from the federal Works Progress Administration - and was named Fort Caspar with the correct spelling of the first name.

In 2026, grant funds were awarded for rehabilitation on the fort buildings, replacing rotted logs and window casings.

As mentioned in Fort Caspar Museum’s post, the CHPC’s Fort Caspar ornaments are available for purchase for $20! There are only 255 ornaments available for purchase, so grab yours today before we run out! The Fort Caspar Museum is located at 4001 Fort Caspar Road, Casper, Wyoming 82604. And while you’re there, check out the museum’s exhibit to learn more about Fort Caspar and Casper’s history; as well as the rehabilitation progress on the Fort Caspar buildings! There is a gift shop that has plenty of souvenirs for all ages and many good books to read about Fort Caspar as well as other topics. If you have any questions or concerns about the ornaments or the museum, feel free to call the Fort Caspar Museum at 307-235-8462.

Huge thanks to the Fort Caspar Museum for helping us sell our annual Christmas ornaments! We appreciate all your hard work in selling and storing our ornaments.

The Fort Caspar ornaments are for sale. The City of Casper Historic Preservation Commission newest ornament is here. Come and get yours. Ornaments are $20.00.

09/19/2026

09/18/2026

The CHPC will be guiding another downtown tour this evening, starting at 5:30pm at Midwest and Center Street. Our chairwoman Connie Thompson-Hall and commission member Randy Hein will be leading this tour! This tour is opened to the public and will take approximately one hour to complete. Please wear walking shoes and appropriate clothing for outdoor weather if you wish to attend.

09/17/2026

Welcome to “Where is it?” Wednesday!

Every week, we will be posting a zoomed-in picture of a historic building in Casper, and you have a week to guess which building it is.

Last week’s photo depicted decorative brickwork along the east elevation of this building. Katie Stebbins and Kersty Cundy are correct that this is the Wyoming Sellers Market at 330 N. Durbin Street!

The building was originally designed for the Troy Laundry company by local architecture firm Garbutt, Weidner, and Sweeney with Donohue-Selover Construction Company as contractor. Completed in June 1921, this large brick building cost $90,000; the “modern” laundry machinery alone was about ⅓ of that cost. Advertisements from 1921 proclaimed that all employees are Union Labor. Originally, the one-story building’s footprint was 70 feet by 140 feet. In the next 20 years, a two-story north addition was added to expand its operations.

Throughout the years, Troy Laundry consolidated Casper’s other laundry facilities into itself. One in particular was the Casper Steam Laundry, which folded into Troy Laundry in early 1922. The former Casper Steam Laundry building was then remodeled and reopened as a public market in August of that year; a predecessor to the Troy Laundry plant eventually becoming the Wyoming Seller’s Market of today.

Troy Laundry stayed at this building until around 1963; and by 1978, the Steiner Corporation resided in this building. Years later, Rescued Treasures called this building home till the Wyoming Sellers Market took over, boasting over 100 vendors selling their products under one roof. The Troy Laundry plant is currently not listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

This week’s zoomed-in photo depicts an aluminum sill for an interchangeable sign. Hint: the sign once displayed titles of what’s playing on its single screen.

You have until next Wednesday, September 23rd, to comment on this post your guess on this mystery building’s identity. You are free to answer with the building’s address, building name, current business, or historic business. Good luck!

09/10/2026

Welcome to “Where is it?” Wednesday!

Every week, we will be posting a zoomed-in picture of a historic building in Casper, and you have a week to guess which building it is.

Last week’s photo depicted a second story bay window. This building is located at 125 West 2nd Street, currently the home of Chapman, Valdez & Lansing Attorneys at Law’s Casper office! Built sometime around the 1920s, this two story brick building doesn’t fall under a particular architectural style. One of its earliest residences was Casper Bottling Works, shown on the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps for 1918 and 1921. Some other businesses that previously resided in this building include: Casper Times Publishing, Masek Auto Supply, Knights of Columbus Hall, Home Appliance Col, Culinary Workers Hall, and Bankers Investment Co. The building’s exterior was refaced / extensively remodeled sometime in the late 20th century. It is not currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

This week’s zoomed-in photo depicts decorative brickwork along the east elevation of this building. Hint: this building is located on the south side of the railroad.

You have until next Wednesday, September 16th, to comment on this post your guess on this mystery building’s identity. You are free to answer with the building’s address, building name, current business, or historic business. Good luck!

09/06/2026

We were excited to celebrate this special moment with Dallas Laird as the Ormsby Mansion received its historic plaque. It was a wonderful opportunity to recognize the care, history, and preservation behind one of Casper’s treasured historic properties. 🏛️

A meaningful day for Dallas, the Ormsby Mansion, and our community!

09/04/2026

Welcome to “Where is it?” Wednesday; but it’s “There it is!” Thursday!

Every week, we will be posting a picture of a historic building in Casper, and you have a week to guess which building it is.

Last week’s photo depicted a triangle knee brace supporting this home’s roof overhang. Kimberly Hershelman Brehm and Janice Rowland Burch are both correct that this is Arthur Garbutt’s home located at the corner of Milton and Grant Streets!

Designed by Garbutt & Weidner Architects, this house was built by architect Arthur Garbutt for his family in 1917. This Craftsman home has the characteristic features of triangular knee braces supporting roof overhangs, stickwork at the gables, large gabled dormers, exposed rafter tails, grouped multi-pane sash-over-sash windows, and window boxes. Wood siding is narrow slats, with the common Craftsman-style flared at the base.

The interior retains all original flooring and unpainted woodwork with typical built-in cabinets in the dining room and on either side of the living room fireplace. The small maid’s quarters retains the original bathroom fixtures. The original chimney that vented the coal boiler was exposed and repurposed for the new furnace venting.

Garbutt was the founding partner of Garbutt, Weidner & Sweeney Architects, the firm that designed Natrona County High School, St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, the Elks Lodge, the Municipal Fire Station on David St., the (now) Wyoming National Bank building at 2nd & Wolcott, and many other downtown buildings, schools, and homes.

From the book “I was there.” by Garbutt’s son Irving Garbutt, his father included rooms for draftsmen working at his office. Dr. J.C. Kamp did tonsillectomy surgery on Irving in the house with him strapped to an ironing board. And two of his siblings were “born in the front bedroom” of the house. The book also references his father’s frequent poker nights that included the most prominent names in Casper society, including the police chief.

Garbutt’s firm was the most prominent architecture firm during Casper’s oil boom years. He established the city’s architectural character based on styles from the east coast that conveyed permanence and sophistication as Casper developed into an economic hub. In the 1950s, the house was owned by longtime legislator Edness Kimball Wilkins who was the first woman Speaker of the House for the Wyoming legislature.

The house is listed as a contributing structure within the South Wolcott Historic District.

This week’s photo depicts a second story bay window. Hint: this building is located along 2nd Street.

You have until next Wednesday, September 9th, to comment on this post your guess on the building’s identity. You are free to answer with the building’s address, building name, current business, or historic business. Good luck!

Photo Credits: Brett Hobza, Unknown Photographer, and Katelynn Larsen

08/27/2026

Welcome to “Where is it?” Wednesday!

Every week, we will be posting a picture of a historic building in Casper, and you have a week to guess which building it is.

Last week’s photo depicted an arched opening in this east-facing concrete wall. This is the Ohio Oil Co. Warehouse & Garage!

Located at 342 Market Street, this concrete building was built in 1921 for the Ohio Oil Company as a warehouse and garage. Designed by local architectural firm Garbutt, Weidner, and Sweeney; this building’s design is purely utilitarian, lacking any kind of ornamentation. A concrete loading dock runs along the northern and western facades, meeting the railroad siding that used to travel down David Street. The eastern facade contains two vehicular bays that allow vehicular traffic to enter/exit the building. The now filled arched opening used to contain a large storefront window with a single door. Additionally, the large multi-light steel windows are another historically defining characteristic of this building. The Ohio Oil Co. Warehouse & Garage is not currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places nor contributes to a historic district.

This week’s photo depicts a triangle knee brace supporting this home’s roof overhang. Hint: this house is located within a couple blocks from Grant Street Grocery and Market.

You have until next Wednesday, September 2nd, to comment on this post your guess on the building’s identity. You are free to answer with the building’s address, building name, current business, or historic business. Good luck!

Photo Credit: Brett Hobza

08/25/2026

🏛️ Casper History Is Everywhere! 🤠

Have you ever driven past an old building in Casper and wondered, “If those walls could talk, what stories would they tell?”

From early settlers and booming oil days to cowboys, railroads, downtown businesses, and generations of families who helped shape our community, Casper’s history is all around us.

The Casper Historic Preservation Commission helps celebrate and protect the places and stories that make our city uniquely CASPER. ❤️

Next time you’re out and about, look around a little differently—you might be standing right where an incredible piece of Casper history happened!

📸 Let’s have some fun: What is one old Casper building, business, landmark, or story you remember and wish everyone knew about?

Drop it in the comments! 👇 We’d love to hear your Casper memories.

08/20/2026

Welcome to “Where is it?” Wednesday!

Every week, we will be posting a picture of a historic building in Casper, and you have a week to guess which building it is.

This week’s photo depicts an arched opening in this east-facing concrete wall. Hint: this building is located along the BNSF Railroad.

You have until next Wednesday, August 26th, to comment on this post your guess on the building’s identity. You are free to answer with the building’s address, building name, current business, or historic business. Good luck!