NCO’s QuartersFt. Laramie had a set of apartments for married NCOs which were built in 1884. These buildings were part of a series of buildings built in the early 1880s, prior to the Army realizing that the fort was no longer necessary. The construction of an additional rail spur in 1886 bypassing the fort caused the Army to view the fort as obsolescent, and no more construction was undertaken. Although these buildings are ruins, they are amongst the last constructed at the post.

Figure 18: These ruins were married NCO quarters, constructed
in 1884. They consisted of apartments. Ironically, a series of buildings
were constructed in the first half of the 1880s, before the decline
of Ft. Laramie's importance became evident.

Post Facilities

Figure 19: 1876 Guardhouse, 1866 guardhouse, and
Administration buildings. In the 19th Century this
photograph could not have been taken, as this view
would have been obscured by the infantry barracks,
mess halls, and kitchens.

Figure 20: Administration Building. This structure was
built of lime concrete in 1885. It also houses the adjutant's
office, a library, and a theatre that also served as a
chapel and school for enlisted men's, and some
officer's, children.

GuardhousesFt. Laramie had three guardhouses during its long history, all of which were severely Spartan by modern standards. Even the final 1876 structure is small and severe.

Figure 21: 1866 Guardhouse. This was the second
guardhouse built at the fort, and was designed to hold
forty prisoners. This two-story building (the first story
opens towards the river) lacked heat, furniture, and light.

Figure 22: 1876 Guardhouse. This guardhouse was built
to address inadequacies in the conditions faced by
prisoners in the second guardhouse. In the foreground
is my long suffering spouse, Darcie, who felt at this
particular moment as though she was in the guardhouse.

Suttler’s StoreThe Suttler’s Store was a major part of any frontier post, and the one at Ft. Laramie is particularly significant. Civilians operated the store under license by the United States. The license granted the holder a monopoly, not only on the post, but also for a several mile area surrounding it. While this would be advantageous anywhere, at Ft. Laramie the trader had the advantage of operating at a secure post, relatively free from the fear of violent death, which had a fairly large garrison of customers. Moreover, the post was established as a point of trade before the military presence, guaranteeing that it would continue to be visited by Native Americans and trappers. Additionally emigrant parties were, if they had the resources, nearly certain to visit the store, which would be the last such facility for many miles. The store operated profitably for forty years, during a part of which the facility also housed the post office.

In addition, the Suttler housed an officers' club, and an enlisted men’s club, from 1883 on. In the blistering hot summers of the region, the cool dark of the clubs was undoubtedly welcome, although at least for enlisted men the amount of beer that could be consumed was restricted.

Figure 24: The Suttler's Store

Figure 25: A Seasonal National Park
Service Ranger in the uniform of a
cavalry officer in the Suttler's Store.

Commissary and BakeriesThe post commissary was built in 1884. The nearby bakeries were built in 1876 and 1883. The post baked 700 18 oz. loaves of bread per day. NCOs turned their units ration of flour over to the bakery, and drew loaves in return. The Old Bakery is one of the structures on the post inhabited by bats today.

Figure 26: On the right is the post Commissary, on the
left the Old Bakery, in ruins the New Bakery.

LatrineThis structure, once covered, gives an idea of 19^th Century conditions. Built to protect the post well, this latrine served four companies. Even so, it was a hike from the barracks to the sink. Officer’s quarters had their own outhouses.

Figure 27: Sink, or latrine. While some might think it uncouth to depict this, its placement in 1886 made an interesting statement. The sink was built to protect post wells, and is placed on the far side of the post, near the guardhouses. In either the heat of summer, or the artic chill of winter, the trip to this facility was a long one. Built for four companies, its placement near the infantry barracks implies that cavalrymen traveled elsewhere.