It was also an important staging point for the U. S. Army in its dealings with the plains tribes displaced by migration and settlement. The Great Migration of 1843 brought close to a thousand people to Fort Laramie and throughout the 1840's wagons increased in numbers peaking in the 1850's to 50,000 annually. Fort Laramie was one of the few supply points on the long journey. Its 12 beds were enough for most situations but were inadequate when an epidemic hit the post. The hospital contained a dispensary, kitchen, dining room, isolation rooms and surgeon's office, but no labs or operating rooms.
Future plans are to restore the hospital and use as a visitors center.
Oregon trail from Flagstaff Hill National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center near Baker City, Oregon. Looking down at the Oregon Trail from Flagstaff Hill, the visible part of the trail is to the left of the covered wagon. The covered wagon sits on a seven mile remnant of the trail. No guarantee on the accuracy of the data found on this web site is given or implied by the site owner. As with all family research, the researcher should strive to obtain primary documents for necessary proofs.