Post Office at Fort Laramie

The post office building was built in 1850, along with the Sutler's Store. It operated not only for place for soldiers to send letters to family and family back home, but also a place where emigrants could send letters to update loved ones. In 1860, Fort Laramie became a stop on the fabled Pony Express and the post office was very important in maintaining that operation. In 1861, Fort Laramie witnessed another revolution and communications. It became a relay station for the Transcontinental telegraph, which sent signals coast to coast by wire in mere hours. The garrisons duties now included policing telegraph lines and maintaining communications. Fort Laramie also became a station on important stagecoach routes, like the one between Cheyenne, Wyoming and Dakota's Black hills. Many legends of the American West road through Fort Laramie, including the author Mark Twain and gunfighters Wyatt Earp and wild Bill Hickok. Others included "Buffalo Bill" Cody and "Calamity Jane".