George A. Wyman, Motorcycle Across America

 George A. Wyman was the first person to cross the American contiunent in a motorized vehicle.  He did this in an early motorcycle. which was basically a bicycle with a small motor attacked.  

Fort Fred Steel Cemetery and the Battle of Milk Creek

 The cemetery has a greater than expected number of graves for young children under five.  25 percent of the graves are for young children.  Life expectancy for children wasn't very great in this remote area.  It was also the final resting place for a group of soldiers from the fort, who were sent to intervene in the Meeker affair in Colorado.  The BIA agent Nathan Meeker there was having what he called issues with the Utes in the area.  He was trying to force them to become farmers.  He asked for help from the army and a unit under Major Thomas Tipton Thornburgh.  The troops were warned not to enter the reservation, which they did anyway which lead to the Utes ambushing the soldiers in Bad Canyon.  Thornburgh was killed as well as 13 of his command with 44 wounded.  The survivors holed themselves in and were surrounded for seven days.  They were finally rescued by the fifth calvary.  19 Ute warriors were killed.  In addition the Utes did kill Nathan Meeker and seven others at his agency.  The Utes were forced to abandon their reservation and were moved to Utah where they now live on the Uintah Ouray Reservation.

When the fort was later abandoned many of the soldiers were disinterred by family and moved elsewhere.  

The Train Tender House at Fort Steele

 Fort Steele was built to guard the railroad, especially the bridge over the Platte River.  The original bridge was made of wood, and subject to fire from the steam locomotives.  A home was built for the train tender with a view of the bridge.  

Bridge is not made of wood today

Next to the tender's home is another building, I assume for the railroad pump house.

The wood bridge

Sheep and other Industries: Fort Steele Area, Wyoming

 Fort Steele area was a big area for the sheep industries, harvesting and shipping out lots of wool.  It also was big for timber, mining and harvesting of ice.  

Fort Fred Steele Visitors Center/ Post Trader home

 The former Post Trader's home is now used as the visitors center for the fort.  It is being restored bit by bit.  It seemed every window sill had lots of articles they had found.  

a view of a wall

a view of the post trader's home/visitors center

Artifacts at Fort Steele.

 Just about every window sill at the visitors center at Fort Fred Steele has a collection of artifacts gathered up from the fort over the years.  This also includes a window sill at the train bridge tender's house.