Photographs: Top two are views from the trail center. Bottom picture is of Independence Rock.Where the city of Casper, Wyoming now sits, all of the overland trails converged to cross the North Platte River and head southwest to the Sweetwater River (a distance of 50 miles without water) and then on to South Pass to cross the mountains. During a period of only about 30 years, almost 500,000 people came through here. Many lost their lives crossing the river. In 1847 Brigham Young had his vanguard group build a ferry boat and left ten men to operate it for the benefit of future pioneers.
The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper is by far the best pioneer trails museum that I have ever visited. It has sections about each of the groups that went west and the Indians who were already there, as well as a large panorama and film theater that put the entire westward movement in perspective. It is truly amazing that so many people made the arduous journey.
Following the trails southwest from Casper, the next significant trail site is Independence Rock. It was estimated that the wagon trains needed to be to this spot by Independence Day (July 4th) in order to safely reach California or Oregon before winter storms set in. Many travelers wrote their names on this rock.
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