FORT BRIDGER

Fort Bridger, WY

Design Team: Kurt Dubbe, AIA; John Fabian

Built between the 1880’s through the 1930’s, Fort Bridger was a military outpost in southwestern Wyoming that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.

Currently administered by the State of Wyoming, Division of Parks and Cultural Resources as a State Historic Site, this complex consists of numerous historic extant stone and wood framed structures possessing a high degree of integrity and significance. Most buildings and a majority of the site have been stabilized and rehabilitated for interpretation back to the period of military significance.

However, there were critical key structures that were out of service and in dire need of attention. This project involved the preparation of a comprehensive historic structures report including existing conditions assessment, building stabilization and rehabilitation program for three historic stone structures, and adaptive re-use into the Fort Bridger State Historic Site administrative offices, museum collection, conservation labs, and archival storage.

As a side note, sold to the Wyoming Historic Landmark Commission in 1928 for preservation as an historic monument, it now has the designation of Fort Bridger State Historic Site. Since its restoration, some original buildings are now used for display purposes, such as the 1888 stone barracks, which contains a museum. In it, artifacts from various time periods in the fort's history are displayed, and one can visit the trading post, which has been rebuilt, and an interpretive archaeological site.