Pioneer Plaza, Casper Wyoming

This is Pioneer Plaza, in Casper Wyoming. The small park is dedicated to the memory of pioneers.  The park is across the street from both the old and new Natrona County courthouses, although the obelisk itself was once in front of the county's first courthouse, which was removed long ago. 

 While the oldest feature of the small park dates from 1911, the park itself was dedicated in 1967.

The sheep commemorate the sheep ranching industry that was once so prominent in Natrona County, Wyoming.

Casper Army Air Base, Casper Wyoming.

These are photos of the new display signs at the Natrona County International Airport, memorializing the airports' early role as an Army Air Corps air base  While the early role of the facility as a B-17 and B-24 training base are still evident, in some ways, these photos serve to also demonstrate how much the facility has changed.

 Display, with stunt aircraft painted in British World War Two colors, in the modern terminal.

Sign on location of the old parade ground.

Flag pole base of parade ground.

 

Parade ground.

Sign commemorating one of the original hangers, which is still standing.

 

This particular hanger, near the sign, is now owned by an air racer, and it also hosts a private museum.

The crash station, which I think at least partially retains its original use.

 Contemporary tower, probably not the original.

 Original hanger.

 Hanger row, with new and old hangers.

View of what had been barracks.

 What had been the base hospital.

I should note here that there is also a museum at the airport, in one of the old buildings, that's been featured here previously.

Salt Creek/Teapot Dome Historical Marker

These two markers, near Teapot Dome and the Naval Petroleum Oil Reserve, clearly fall outside the scope of the blog.  However, as I recently stopped and took photos of these markers, put up by the State of Wyoming, I thought I'd at least post them.

Teapot Dome is, of course, not associated with any sort of personal sacrifice, but unfortunately with scandal.  The scandal was real, but perhaps a more fitting consideration is that this Natrona County Wyoming oilfield was a long serving Naval Petroleum Reserve, and only recently has that status been altered.

Part of these memorials also commemorates the Salt Creek Oil Field. An incredibly long-lasting Wyoming oil field.

Guinard's Bridge, Natrona County Wyoming.

Again, not really in the focus of this blog, but the location of a significant local battle, that being the Battle of Platte Bridge Station, which is otherwise noted on this site. This is Guinard's Bridge, which was the Platte Bridge guarded by the post later known as Ft. Caspar. The bridge type structure depicted here is, of course, a replica. The monument is an old monument posted on this location well before the construction of the replica bridge.

Natronan County High School Vietnam War Memorial, Natrona County Library

This memorial, in the Natrona County Wyoming public library, lists the names of Natrona County High School alumni killed during the Vietnam War. The memorial consists of a photograph of Natrona County High School and the names of the servicemen.

St. Anthony's Parishoner's World War Two Memorial

This photograph depicts the St. Anthony's World War Two parishioner's memorial, listing the names of those member of the Parish killed during World War Two.

115th Cavalry Regiment Armory Monument, Casper Wyoming

This unusual monument commerates the 115th Cavalry Regiment's armory in Casper, Wyoming. The Wyoming Army National Guard armory was built in 1930 and was one of several housing individual units of the National Guard's 115th Cavalry Regiment. After the Korean War the unit later housed the HHB 3d Bn 49th FA until some date in the 1970s. The building then passed into the ownership of Casper College, and it was ultimately torn down in 1987. This monument stands in a park where party of the armory's grounds were located.

Photographs of the armory are also located here. More about the 115th Cavalry Regiment, which was federalized in 1940 and served in World War Two, can be found on the Society of the Military Horse website, a link to which is provided in our link list.

Photographs of the armory coming down are provided below.