Ft. Steele

After exiting the Seminoe-Alcova Scenic Country Backway, we arrived at I-80. As we traveled to the Snowy Range Road, we discovered a sign pointing the way to Ft. Steele, so off we went. It is located along the west bank of the Platte River, just across the Union Pacific tracks.

It was established in 1868 as a fort to protect the Overland Stage Line and the Union Pacific railroad from Indian attacks. Four companies evolved comprised of three hundred men; the companies served to safeguard travelers and to construct the fort. Soon afterward, a town half-mile to the south was born, named Brownsville. Due to its numerous saloons and gambling joints, the Army forced Brownsville off government land. The town relocated three miles west of the fort and renamed itself Benton.

Records indicate that Fort Steele’s Army never once encountered a battle. The west side of the fort was “Officers Row,” and the east side contained the men’s barracks, laundries, and a sawmill. Passing through on the south side was the railroad. In 1886, the fort was abandoned. Eight years later, the property was purchased by the Cosgriff Brothers for one hundred dollars. Soon after converting the buildings to stores and residences, fire destroyed much of the town, and the remaining buildings became the property of the Leo Sheep Company.

Today, many of the buildings are foundations or depressions in the ground. One of the things we did discover though was the old cemetery. (You know how I love old cemeteries)! According to the information, 80 people were buried here, including soldiers wives and children, but several of the soldiers were later disinterred to military cemeteries or removed by relatives.

This was a strange way to mark these particular graves, I thought. No fence, but rather just use of tree limbs. According to the information sheet, many of the graves had wooden markers rather than stone. When walking around the cemetery I spotted several pieces of wood and nails and wondered if they were the remains of the markers?

Just off the property of the fort, Joe spied this. We don't know if it was once an opening to a mine shaft or if it was a leanto type of house. And then there was this very old church which was missing its windows, but still very beautiful.