Posted in Wyoming
August 06, 2016
The Remnants Of This Abandoned Hospital In Wyoming Are Hauntingly Beautiful
If only the remaining walls of this old building in Wyoming could talk… The stories they could tell. This building and others in Fort Laramie witnessed the history of America’s western expansion and Native American resistance. The buildings served their purpose well and now the hauntingly beautiful remnants are left behind to remind us of such a crucial time in history.
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Fort Laramie is a national historic site located in the eastern portion of Wyoming at the confluence of the Laramie River and the North Platte River. It was established in 1834 as a fur trading post and was a primary stopping point along the Oregon Trail. In 1849, the fort was taken over by the United State Army to protect travelers along the Oregon Trail.
Particularly moving are the ruins of the old hospital. The hospital ruins are located on the hill to the north among a cemetery that was used by the fur traders and Army. The setting adds to the tone and character of the ruins. The hospital, built in 1873 included a 12 bed ward with dispensary, dining room, kitchen, isolation rooms, surgeon's office, orderly rooms and storage rooms but ironically no operating rooms or laboratory. The building was the first to be constructed out of lime concrete in the fort and the top floor remained unfloored from lack of available lumber.
The Army abandoned Fort Laramie in 1890. The buildings fell into disrepair until 1937 at which time the state of Wyoming purchased the fort. The land was eventually transferred over to the National Park Service and became a National Historic Monument.
To get an even better visual of Fort Laramie including the hospital ruins, watch this footage by YouTube user, IntoWisOutdoors.
For other abandoned sites in Wyoming, check out these 18 Abandoned Places In Wyoming That Nature Is Reclaiming.
