Infantry Barracks (Museum)

Infantry Barracks (Museum). . Completed in 1887, this building served as an infantry barracks, or housing for infantry troops stationed here. With an interior of wooden floors and plastered walls, it was a vast improvement over the rude log barracks in use since 1858. Shaped like an inverted capital 'T', the front part, or top of the 'T' measures 102' x 38' and faces the parade grounds. The majority of this section was a dormitory where a fifty-man company lived and slept. On the right side were three small shop rooms and a store room. On the left side there was another store room and rooms for the 1st Sergeant and an orderly. The rear portion measures 64' x 34' and held the kitchen, dining room , barbershop and washroom. Built of quarried stone, this is the largest of the remaining original buildings at Fort Bridger. , Only three years after this barracks was completed, the post was abandoned and local residents used this building as a barn. It was used as a barn for several more years than as a military barracks. In the mid 1900's, after the cows had been evicted, it was cleaned up and turned into a museum. Today, as the Fort Bridger State Museum, it houses several displays depicting the various different periods in Fort Bridger's colorful history.