Through our visits to the Texas Star Party, we have spent many years visiting a southern frontier fort (Fort Davis). We decided it would be fun to visit a northern frontier fort. Both were used in dealings with Indians and as way stations for travelers.
One immediate difference - Fort Laramie is situated out of town and the town is not visible from any of the grounds we walked. Fort Davis National Historic Site is pretty much the downtown area of the town of Fort Davis. If you didn't know what the fort was, you'd mistake it for part of the town.
We parked in the "back 40" with 3000 other people and walked through the pasture to get to the fort.
Another big difference between a southern fort and a northern fort? A garden! In the Chihuahuan Desert, there aren't many gardens. In Wyoming, there are gardens! And trees all around fort and the buildings.
In the dungeon area of the guard/jail house, we discovered a baby bird that was chirping at everyone who entered.
The community building was used by the fort commander for his office, school and church services were held in this building, as were evening social events.
The fort also had cellars and chicken coops. Some of the cellars were used as ice houses.
We saw several sewing machines in the houses and water wells. In the south, cisterns were used to collect water and that's what was used for most of the water. In the north, the water table isn't too far down so wells could be dung.
Fort Laramie was used as a trading post for Indians and the "white man". The mountain men and indians would come to the fort to trade with business from the east who bought the furs to be used in making goods (coats, blankets, hats). In turn, the post store was used by the traders for stocking up on supplies before heading back into the hills. Here, the Indian interactions were mostly friendly and civilized. In fact, the ruins on the hill were built in the area where a funeral was conducted for one of the Indian chief's daughter.
One immediate difference - Fort Laramie is situated out of town and the town is not visible from any of the grounds we walked. Fort Davis National Historic Site is pretty much the downtown area of the town of Fort Davis. If you didn't know what the fort was, you'd mistake it for part of the town.
We parked in the "back 40" with 3000 other people and walked through the pasture to get to the fort.
We started with the visitors center where the lines were around all the bookcases. I found a nice ranger, who wasn't checking anyone out, and asked for a bugle call list. The layout of the forts are similar. There is a parade ground in the center where the troops assembly for drills. Houses and buildings are laid out around the parade grounds.
Another big difference between a southern fort and a northern fort? A garden! In the Chihuahuan Desert, there aren't many gardens. In Wyoming, there are gardens! And trees all around fort and the buildings.
Both forts have rabbits - here, the rabbits get to play in the grass, not the sand. Another huge difference: the presence of a river. When Fort Davis was founded, the Limpia River was above ground. Now, it mainly runs below the surface, except during times of above average rainfall. At Fort Laramie, the river is still visible and contains mucho aqua! Beautiful!!
We visited the jail, the armory, the community center, and several officers quarters. The building of the walls looks very similar; both forts have thick walls made out of adobe of some fashion. Fort Laramie also had wood moldings around the windows and doors. In the south, the thick walls were made to keep the heat out; in the north, thick walls keep the heat in! Speaking of heat - the method of obtaining heat was different too. At Fort Laramie, each room had a stove inside the house and the chimney was for the stove pipe. In the south, it's a fireplace that's at the bottom of the chimney.
In the dungeon area of the guard/jail house, we discovered a baby bird that was chirping at everyone who entered.
The community building was used by the fort commander for his office, school and church services were held in this building, as were evening social events.
The fort also had cellars and chicken coops. Some of the cellars were used as ice houses.
Another design difference, the kitchens at Fort Laramie are attached, sometimes in the same room as the dining area, to the houses. In the south, kitchens were separate rooms, to help keep the heat levels down in the homes.
We saw several sewing machines in the houses and water wells. In the south, cisterns were used to collect water and that's what was used for most of the water. In the north, the water table isn't too far down so wells could be dung.
Fort Laramie was used as a trading post for Indians and the "white man". The mountain men and indians would come to the fort to trade with business from the east who bought the furs to be used in making goods (coats, blankets, hats). In turn, the post store was used by the traders for stocking up on supplies before heading back into the hills. Here, the Indian interactions were mostly friendly and civilized. In fact, the ruins on the hill were built in the area where a funeral was conducted for one of the Indian chief's daughter.
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