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Continuing east on I-80 from Rock Springs, you pass several more very small towns (usually
less than 200 people). Exit 211 takes you into Rawlins on I-80-Business.
Turn left on 6th Street, go two blocks and you're at the restored
Wyoming Frontier Prison. They have created a tour which is not
recommended for younger children though teenagers love it. It reveals an
interpretation of what prison life may have been like during the Wyoming
frontier days. There is an admission fee (when we were there it was
$4.25 - 3.75 for seniors and children). Fort Steele.
Not quite 2 miles north of I-80 at exit 228 is the historic site of Fort
Fred Steel. Built in the 1860s to guard local settlers and railroad
workers, completion of the Union Pacific 30 years later removed the need
for the U.S.Army to continue maintaining a presence here. By this time a
town had been establish here and it wasn't about to die quietly - yet.
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(continued from
column 1)
In 1922 America's first transcontinental highway,
US-30, was officially
opened. Named the Lincoln Highway, it created an economic boost to many
towns across western America. Now there was both the railroad and the highway; this should have
guaranteed survival of Fort Steele.
Uncle Sam gives - and Uncle Sam takes. In 1939 the highway was re-routed
sucking the economic vitality from the town. Then, a little quirk of the
natural terrain of Wyoming help assure the demise of the town of Fort
Steel: it is a virtual wind tunnel. Ah, but there's more, much, much
more at the official web site. (see:
Fort
Steele)
By the way, it is more interesting to read about the site than to visit.
We don't recommend a stop. |
