Place

Old Guardhouse (1866)

California National Historic Trail, Fort Laramie National Historic Site, Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail, Oregon National Historic Trail, Pony Express National Historic Trail

A stone building with two doors and a lower level. — The Old Guardhouse (1866) in winter.
NPS/Clayton Hanson

Audio Description, Fire Extinguisher

Built in 1866, this stone guardhouse was the second constructed at Fort Laramie. The upper level housed soldiers assigned to guard duty. Guard duty consisted of a 24 hour shift in which a soldier was expected to wear his dress uniform for the entire duration of the shift. Guards would be rotated at guard stations around the post. Those assigned to guard duty shared 1 bunk that would hold most of the roster. The lower level housed the prisoners. Soldiers could be confined to the guard house for simply having a dirty uniform until they went before a court martial. More serious offenders were held in the two solitary confinement cells located in the far corner.