A sightseeing tour of Casper would start where the town started—at the convergence of the multiple travel routes to the West. The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center accurately portrays the experiences of emigrants who traversed the Oregon, California, Mormon, Bridger, Bozeman, and Pony Express Trails. The museum has incorporated the history of Wyoming's native peoples in displays that include a simulated crossing of the North Platte River in a replica Conestoga wagon. An award-winning audiovisual feature recreates the days of early Casper in a way that brings pioneer existence alive for modern visitors.
The natural segue is to next visit the Fort Caspar Museum and Historical Site, located along the historical trail system. The buildings of the original fort have been reconstructed, with structures including the 1859 Guinard bridge and the 1847 Mormon ferry utilized in crossings of the North Platte. Exhibits range from prehistoric natural history items to recent regional development in central Wyoming.
While in the vicinity, visitors can enjoy a leisurely ramble along the Platte River Parkway, an 11-mile paved path that connects residential neighborhoods to natural areas. The Platte River Commons in downtown Casper continues along the riverbank; within the downtown area, the Art for the Streets program has sprinkled the historic area with 31 sculptures. "Painted Past" Living History Tours through the downtown area highlight myths, legends and true stories of Casper's checkered past.
The Mormon Handcart Visitors' Center commemorates the hardships and survival of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints traveling as part of the Martin and Willie Handcart Companies in 1856. As the group traveled westward, it encountered a raging blizzard that forced the company to hole up in a local cove for four days. During the ensuing wait for rescuers, many members of the group died from starvation or exposure. Visitors to the site today can pull a handcart to the cove or can participate in guided camping treks.
The Nicolaysen Art Museum and Discovery Center contains one large and six small galleries exhibiting art from or about the Rocky Mountain Region. Exhibitors at "the Nic" often include contemporary living artists from the area. The Discovery Center allows visitors to create their own art in a self-guided studio containing interactive exhibits, and the Wyoming Science Adventure Center generates interest in sciences through fun, interactive displays. Workshops and educational programs are offered throughout the year as well, with a special emphasis on quilting.
The West Wind Gallery is operated by the Casper Artists' Guild, the members of which show and sell their works under the gallery's roof. The gallery occasionally hosts artists from out of state and also offers classes.
The Tate Geological Museum is located on the grounds of Casper College and is home to a collection of more than 3,000 fossil and mineral specimens. The museum offers a Saturday Club experience for local youth in which they study local geology and animal fossils. Adults can take part in paleontology and geology fieldwork expeditions coordinated through the museum, with visits to Wind River Reservation, and the Morrison and Lance Formation sites. Casper College also houses the Werner Wildlife Museum featuring more than 285 birds and 100 other various species.
The formative history of Casper is further represented at the Salt Creek Museum in the city of Midwest, where books, memorabilia and reminiscences reflect on more than 100 years of oil field action in the area. The Wyoming Veteran's Memorial Museum at the airport is located in the building where bombing crews trained during World War II.
The Wyoming Symphony Orchestra performs "The Nut-cracker" seasonally in conjunction with the Western Ballet Theater, which involves local dancers for that event. Five more performances per season round out the orchestra's schedule at the John F. Welsh Auditorium.
Young musicians from 4th graders to 21 year olds participate in The Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps, regardless of musical experience. The Troopers travel around the U.S. throughout the summer, performing and competing in drum and bugle corps contests. Further musical offerings are provided through the Casper Chamber Music Society, the Casper Children's Chorale, Casper Civic Chorale, Casper Fiddle Club, Casper Municipal Band, Choral Arts Ensemble, Metropolitan Brass Quintet, Oil City Slickers, and ARTCORE.
Productions ranging from the classical to the contemporary are performed by the players of Stage III, an all-volunteer community theater located in historic downtown Casper. The theater department at Casper College presents similarly varied fare to audiences in the Gertrude Krampert Theatre. A musical and three plays are presented each academic year, while the summer season offerings are often musicals or comedies.
Arts and Culture Information: Casper Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, 330 South Center Street, Suite 420, Casper, WY 82601; telephone (307)234-5362; toll free (800)852-1889; email visitors@casperwyoming.info
The year kicks off in January with the Windy City Quilt Festival. Casper residents fire up for the Cowboy State Games in February, an Olympic-style event composed of a mix of indoor and outdoor competitive sports. The Games run for five weekends during the month. Casper sees a local version of March Madness with the 1A and 2A State Basketball Tournament being held at the Casper Events Center early in the month. March is also time for the Super Flea Market at the Fairgrounds. The spring winds of April support the Central Wyoming Kite Flyers Fun Fly at the Soccer Complex, and Casper College hosts its rodeo. Temperate May weather ushers in a flock of activities such as the high school rodeo, the Kid's Fishing Derby, a dog show, and a car exhibition. The festivities continue in June with the Casper Antique Show early in the month and the Governor's Cup Sailboat Regatta at Alcova Lake a few weeks later.
The Fourth of July blasts off with a Fireworks Festival and a Cavalry baseball game, followed by the Rocky Mountain Regional Dance Festival, the Whitewater kayak rodeo, and the Beartrap Music Festival at the end of July. The Kiwanis Club hosts a golf tournament at the end of August, and cooler fall temperatures in September are perfect for the Platte River Fall Festival and Great Duck Derby. In mid-October, Casper hosts the local Special Olympics events. The holiday months of November and December respectively see the advent of the Meals on Wheels Craft Fair and the Tate Museum Holiday Open House.
Casper grew up around the livestock industry, so it's no surprise that rodeo is the major spectator sport. Casper hosts two large rodeo events: the College National Finals Rodeo and the Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo. The College National Finals Rodeo takes place in mid-June each year and features the top rodeo event qualifiers from colleges and universities from across the U.S. Events include barrel racing, calf roping, and bull riding to just name a few. The Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo is held in mid-July, with Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association competitions in roping, bareback riding, saddle bronc and bull riding events among others.
During the summer months, baseball fans can see tomorrow's stars playing for the Casper Rockies, the minor league affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. The team plays at Mike Lansing Field. In the spring, sports are still staying indoors with the Wyoming Cavalry football team, a member of the National Indoor Football League. Formed in 2001, the Cavalry finished the inaugural season second in the nation and have a rowdy, faithful following. The Wyoming Golden Eagles round out the spectating season with All American Professional Basketball League competition.
Afficionados of the Wild West will relish the opportunity to participate in historic wagon train trips arranged through local companies. A similar desire to experience pioneer Casper could spur a visit to a working cattle and guest ranch located about 65 miles southwest of the city.
For folks who prefer to provide their own locomotion, the Casper Marathon takes place in early June, with marathon, half-marathon, and marathon relay options. The course is described as flat with few hills, and runners are invited to "come run with the herd."
A slightly less strenuous workout can be found at the Casper Municipal Golf Course, an 18-hole course with a practice range, putting and chipping greens, and a 19th Hole Restaurant and Lounge. The course is open from April 1st to November 1st each year.
The North Platte River offers ample outdoor recreation opportunities, such as kayaking through the Parkway Whitewater Park. This man-made whitewater facility runs for half a mile over structures that create turbulent water for kayak maneuvers. Canoes and rafts can also navigate through the Whitewater Park or pursue a more relaxed pace on other stretches of the North Platte. Fly fishing along the river can yield large brown and rainbow trout.
Birding excursions at the Audubon Center, Edness Kimball Wilkins State Park, and Jackson Canyon may produce sightings of bald and golden eagles, hummingbirds, bluebirds, hawks, sandpipers, wild turkeys, and grosbeaks. Birding field trips are offered almost every weekend of the year through the Murie Audubon Society.
Casper Mountain is the scene of outdoor adventure year-round, with alpine skiing, Nordic skiing and snowshoeing in the winter and hiking during the spring, summer and fall seasons. Casper is within an easy day's drive of Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and Devil's Tower Monument, all of which offer a range of trails in addition to campsites. Serious rock climbers can head east a few hours to Vedauwoo in southeast Wyoming; this startling and impressive collection of rock formations has something for everyone, from the scrambler to the multi-pitch climber.
Casper's historic downtown area contains a mix of antique shops and other retailers, including the largest western merchandise store in Wyoming. The Eastridge Mall is the site of a number of national franchise stores combined with shops owned locally. Fast food outlets, grocery stores, and home supply stores are located nearby. Based near the foothills of Casper Mountain, the Sunrise Shopping Center is anchored by a restaurant and a bowling alley at one end and a gym at the other. The Hilltop Shopping Center focuses on local businesses, while the Beverly Plaza Shopping Center is home to national franchises. Other shopping areas include Plaza East, Millview Center, and CY Avenue/Highway 220 Shopping Strip.
Traditional American cuisine rules in Casper, with at least 36 restaurants offering downhome and family-style cooking. Approximately eight Mexican eateries meet the needs of spice-craving palates, while another eight establishments serve up varieties of Asian fare. As might be expected in cattle country, steakhouses are popular as well. A handful of fine dining, Italian, seafood, and barbecue restaurants flesh out the dining options in Casper. Basic and gourmet coffees are available at the six java houses in town.
Visitor Information: Casper Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, 992 N. Poplar St., Casper, WY 82601; telephone (307)234-5362; toll-free (800)852-1889; fax (307)261-9928; email visitors@casperwyoming.info