Fort Washakie

Fort Washakie (1871-1909) - Established as a relocated Camp Brown (2) in 1871 by Captain Robert A. Torrey, 1st U.S. Infantry, in the present day town of Fort Washakie, Fremont County, Wyoming. Renamed Fort Washakie 30 Dec 1878 after Shoshone Chief Washakie, father-in-law of Jim Bridger. The chief resided at Fort Washakie until his death in 1900. Permanently abandoned by the U.S. Army in 1909. Became the headquarters of the Shoshoni Indian Agency in 1913.

Fort Washakie 1883	Fort Washakie Post Building Probably a Stable
Fort Washakie Building 1, Originally the Post Library and Chapel
Fort Washakie Building 1, in Use as Wind River Indian Agency HQ

Fort Washakie History

Chief Washakie's Grave in the old Fort Washakie Cemetery

Established to protect the Shoshone and Bannock Indian Reservation against hostile Indian enemies of these two tribes. Relocated from Lander in Jan 1871 by Captain Robert A. Torrey, 1st U.S. Infantry. Originally built of wood and adobe, the post was rebuilt later in the 1870's with stone buildings.

Permanently abandoned by the U.S. Army on 30 Mar 1909 and became the headquarters of the Shoshoni Indian Agency in 1913.

Current Status

Part of the Headquarters of the Wind River Shoshoni Indian Agency. Some military buildings remain although they are not identified as such. Building 1 is recognizable from HABS documentation as the old post chapel and library but it is roofless and mostly destroyed by a fire. Other buildings are clearly of military origins and there are others that could be.

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Location: In the town of Fort Washakie, Fremont County, Wyoming. Maps & Images Lat: 43.00573 Long: -108.883309 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 5,568'

Sources:

• Hart, Herbert M., Tour Guide to Old Western Forts, Pruett Publishing Co., Boulder CO, 1980, ISBN 0-87108-568-2, page 205
• Frazer, Robert W., Forts of the West, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman OK, 1965, ISBN 0-8061-1250-6, page 186-187
• Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 863-864
• Hebard, Grace Raymond, Washakie: Chief of the Shoshones, University of Nebraska press, 325 pages, ISBN 0803272782

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Washakie
• Wikipedia - Fort Washakie
• Wyoming Tales & Trails - Fort Washakie

Visited: 16 Sep 2012

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