Fort Laramie National Historic Site, Wyoming, is hosting a symposium
titled "Fort Laramie: Crossroads of the West" on August 6-8, 2004.  The
program's goal is to provide a forum to exchange the latest historical
research about the Fort Laramie story and the broad role the post played
in the American West.  The conference should afford an opportunity to
re-examine and re-envision the role of Fort Laramie.

Talks will cover a wide range of topics:  the fur trading years of the
fort's origins; the acquisition of the post by the United States Army in
1849 and the subsequent military history of the site; the decades during
which the fort served as an "oasis" to thousands of emigrants crossing
the continent on the Oregon/California and Mormon Trails; and the post
-military closure in 1890, including its later preservation and ARCHAEOLOGY.

The symposium will feature several noted scholars of Western American
History, including Elliott West, Sherry Smith, Donald Fixico, Jerome
Greene, Paul Hedren, Allison K. Hoagland, and Douglas McCristian, among
others.

Through panel discussions, the symposium will also include a unique
program designed to stimulate interest in Ft. Laramie as a resource for
teaching, for community development and understanding, and for heritage
tourism.  The audience is invited to participate in these Saturday
dialogues.

The symposium will be held at Fort Laramie National Historic Site, Fort
Laramie, Wyoming.  During the conference, the historic site will be open
for personal tours of structures, grounds and interpretive exhibits.

For more information and registration materials, contact Mr. George
Helfrich, Superintendent, Fort Laramie National Historic Site, HC72, Box
389, Fort Laramie, WY 82212; (307)837-2221; [log in to unmask]