Historic fort closes as government shutdown takes effect
TORRINGTON (WNE) β Fort Laramie National Historic Site closed to visitors Wednesday following a lapse in federal appropriations as the government entered a shutdown at 12:01 a.m.
The federal government officially entered a shutdown early Wednesday amid an impasse on Capitol Hill over competing congressional spending bills.
The closure affects the 19th-century military post near the confluence of the Laramie and North Platte rivers in eastern Wyoming. Originally established as a private fur trading fort in 1834, Fort Laramie evolved into the largest and best-known military post on the Northern Plains before its abandonment in 1890.
About 64% of the National Park Service workforce is set to be furloughed during the shutdown.Β
Staff kept on will perform emergency activities such as law enforcement and fire suppression.
The National Park Service announced late Tuesday that park roads, lookouts, trails and open-air memorials will generally remain accessible to visitors at sites where public access cannot be physically restricted.Β
However, Fort Laramie consists primarily of buildings and structures secured during non-business hours, making complete closure necessary.
Fort Laramie served as a critical stop on the Oregon Trail and played a significant role in westward expansion and conflicts with Plains tribes. The site features 13 standing buildings and 11 ruins preserved by the National Park Service.
The historic site will remain closed until Congress approves new federal funding.
This story was published on Oct. 3, 2025.Β