Fort Laramie was founded in 1849 as a military outpost along the Oregon Trail.  It served as a staging area for troops fighting Crazy Horse or Sitting Bull.  The popular view of the fort, generated by series such as “The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin” from our old black and white televisions, is that of an enclosure surrounded by a wall.  A fence, however, never enclosed Fort Laramie.  The structures were made from a mixture of lime and sifted river sand.  The National Park Service uses the same mixture today for repairs, restoration, preservation and maintenance. Visit the Fort Laramie website.