WYld Fave - National Historic Trails Interpretive Center
Written By: Sarah Reish
Casper Welcome Center
It might be a little obvious to visit a welcome center, but I don’t always do this. Now if you are going to miss one welcome center, make sure it’s NOT Casper’s Welcome Center. This center houses the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center and showcases the impressive history of our expansion westward.
It has an impressive theater
This theater is front and center and curves around the center of the museum, which I felt complimented the architecture throughout the welcome center. The video is interactive, in that, the lighting in the theater highlights displays that coincide with the narrative. Much of the video we watched was actually a reading from journals, letters, and diaries of individuals who traveled west via a wagon train.
Weird things we learned
Apparently littering has been an issue for a long time. We knew about the more common struggles people faced - like the dust, crossing rivers, sickness, death, et cetera - We are veteran Oregon Trail Gamers. But I never knew that when wagons broke down or travels had a lame horse and needed to lighten the load, they actually threw stuff out along the trails west. It was an issue. Trails became blocked and it even impacted the travel of others
The displays
The details and interactiveness of the museum are super cool. They encourage guests to explore and touch things and even climb into the wagon at the Platte River display. But the interactiveness doesn’t stop there. The wagon actually has a video screen of someone helping you cross the Platte River and the wagon is engineered to move with the video - mimicking what the crossing would have been like. They also have a stagecoach, covered wagon, and even a train. One display shows an empty trunk with items surrounding it, what would you pack? Inside the entrance they even have a section model of Independence Rock showing how pioneers would sign their name. Be sure to visit with the staff, they are full of information and incredibly helpful.
Who would enjoy this?
Everyone! The museum is 100% accessible and enjoyable for young and old alike.
Details to note
Open year round
Tuesday - Saturday
9 am - 4:30 pm
Closed all federal holidays
Always FREE
Follow all rules
Please be aware of display signs - some areas do not allow video or photos.
Hit the road
Make sure you include this stop in your travel plans if you will be heading through Casper. Remember to take photos, where allowed, and post them on social media. Also, be sure to tag us @LiveWYldMag and use #LiveWYld
