Traces of Westward Expansion
More than five feet deep, wagon ruts in the soft sandstone make the Oregon Trail Ruts State Historic Site an impressive testament to westward migration. The ruts were formed by the wheels of countless wagons moving through the rocky landscape. The site was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1975.
Register Cliff also preserves traces of this era, but in a more personal way: emigrants carved names, dates, places of origin, and messages into the soft sandstone. In the 1840s and 1850s, the cliff was an important landmark along the California, Oregon, and Mormon Trails. Here, deep grooves in the rock stand alongside the inscriptions left by individual travelers.
CCC Heritage and Museums
The Guernsey Museum is a historic roadside museum built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). It is open seasonally from May 1 through September 30; check current hours before your visit. You can also explore the museum, the Castle, and Brimmer Point in Guernsey State Park.
You can also discover the park's CCC heritage along its restored trails. The trail network covers about 14 miles and consists of several loops. The trailhead is at the junction near Brimmer Point; along the way, you’ll enjoy views of the park, reservoir, and dam. The park also has 19 campgrounds and 250 campsites. If you’re planning to camp, check current campsite availability.
Additional museum collections add different perspectives on local history. The Laramie Peak Museum features an authentic reconstruction of Wheatland’s first schoolhouse and numerous artifacts from Platte County’s earliest settlers. Treasures on display at the Glendo Museum include an extensive fossil collection, a pictorial history of the construction of Glendo Dam, and hand-forged relics. They come from the Twin Springs blacksmith shop, which burned down during the Battle of Horseshoe Creek.
Preserving records is also part of local history: a preservation project at the Chugwater Museum has digitally stored more than 3,000 images. These include photographs, newspapers, documents, letters, and private and government records. The Chugwater Soda Fountain tells a different kind of local story: it is the oldest operating soda fountain in Wyoming.
Water, Trails, and Seasonal Experiences
Glendo State Park is a 22,000-acre park in Platte County, located on and around Glendo Reservoir. Water also offers other possible activities: river trips on the North Platte River are available in spring and summer. Since availability and operators can change, check what’s on offer before making plans.
Walleye, yellow perch, channel catfish, largemouth bass, and crappie can be caught at Wheatland Reservoir No. 1. The Chugwater Chili Cook-Off and Roundup offers a different kind of seasonal highlight: the event takes place every year in June and includes public chili and salsa tastings. For your trip, it’s a good idea to check the specific dates and program for that year.
Planning Your Trip
Platte County is located along I-25 on the route to or from Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone National Park. The historic sites, museums, and waterfront experiences offer different possible ways to shape your trip, from traces of westward migration and CCC heritage to seasonal activities. You can plan which of these discoveries to focus on based on your interests.
Discover more destinations: Wheatland, Chugwater, Sheridan, Carbon, Johnson County, Teton, Laramie, Campbell.
For the main travel overview: Wyoming.
