Named after Jim Bridger. The first owner of the fort was perhaps the most picturesque figure in early Wyoming. He was often called the "Daniel Boone of the Rockies." Fort Bridger, which he built and Bridger's Pass, which he discovered were named for him. This historical fort has several interesting old buildings still standing; the old pony express barn and the Mormon protective wall are still in existence there, and fitting ceremonies will make this site one of the landmarks for history. (WPA) Named for James Bridger who, with Benito Vasquez, established the fort in 1842. (Annals of Wyoming 14:3) Fort Bridger, Wyoming. Situated near Carter's Station, Union Pacific Railroad, Uinta County; now town of that name. (Heitman) Fort Bridger as a Military Reservation was first called Camp Scott and its name changed to Fort Bridger. (Fort Bridger Military Reservation Senate Report 1120, 61st Congress, 3rd session)
Other Names:
Camp Scott
County:
Uinta
Feature Category:
Manmade Features
More Reading:
The school and the town of Fort Bridger. Bartlett, Mary. S.l. : s.n., 1992.; Fort Bridger : the beginning, but not the end. Devish, Deborah. Fort Bridger, WY : Deborah Devish, 2005.; Fort Bridger, Wyoming : a brief history ; comprising Jim Bridger's old trading post, Fort Bridger becomes an army post, Fort Bridger as a frontier army post, Map of the old Oregon Trail (map of principal historic sites and trails of Wyoming) Ellison, Robert Spurrier. Casper, Wyo. : Historical Landmark Commission of Wyoming, 1931.; Fort Bridger : a brief history. Ellison, Robert Spurrier. [Cheyenne, Wyo.] : Wyoming State Archives, Museums, and Historical Dept., 1981.; Fort Bridger, island in the wilderness. Gowans, Fred R. Provo, Utah : Brigham Young University Press, [1975]; Army architecture in the West : Forts Laramie, Bridger, and D.A. Russell, 1849-1912. Hoagland, Alison K. Norman : University of Oklahoma Press, 2004.; Fort Bridger, Wyoming : trading post for Indians, mountain men, and westward migrants. Janin, Hunt. Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland, 2001.; The Cherokee Trail : Bent's Old Fort to Fort Bridger. Whiteley, Lee. Boulder, Colo. : Printed by Johnson Printing, c1999.; Will Bagley. Fort Bridger. WyoHistory.org
