Fort Bridger (Images of America). This item is unavailable.Fort Bridger (Images of America)

The history of Fort Bridger represents a microcosm of the development of the American West. Situated in an area initially inhabited by the Shoshone people, Fort Bridger was established during a transitional phase between the fur-trade era and the period of western migration. The fort became one of the most important supply points along the nation's western trail network. Later, the post served as a bastion of civilization as one of a number of western military posts. Soldiers at the fort protected not only the lives and property of its local citizenry but also the emerging transportation and communication advancements of a nation. Following the Army's departure, a small settlement emerged at Fort Bridger, using buildings and materials from the old military garrison. Today, the fort and town remain active, in part as a respite for travelers just as it had been more than 150 years ago.

Ephriam D. Dickson III, former curator at the Fort Douglas Museum in Salt Lake City, Utah, now serves as an education specialist at the National Museum of the United States Army located at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Mark J. Nelson is a retired museum curator who spent time at the historic site as a summer seasonal and site manager. The authors have incorporated photographs from a number of sources but have relied most heavily on the collections of the Wyoming State Archives.