Casper, Wyoming – At the historic Fort Caspar Museum, volunteers Johanna Wickman and longtime staff member Con Trumbull have turned a summer pastime into a unique way of documenting the fort’s lingering paranormal activity. Each day they set up a checkerboard in a locked building, leave the pieces, and return later to see if an unseen opponent has moved a piece.
Volunteer‑run investigations
Wickman, a historian specializing in the 11th Kansas Cavalry, and Trumbull, who has served the site for 17 years, say the games are just one of many unexplained phenomena reported at the fort. “Odd things happen here around the clock,” Trumbull said, noting footsteps in empty rooms, objects shifting inside locked spaces, and apparitions darting across the grounds.
Historical backdrop fuels the mystery
Fort Caspar sits on a historic North Platte River crossing that once served travelers on the Oregon, California and Mormon trails, as well as the Pony Express and military routes. “This is still very much a crossroads of our history,” Trumbull added, emphasizing the site’s deep roots in western expansion.
First‑hand encounters
Trumbull recalls hearing a horse whinny during a school tour despite no horses being present. Wickman recounts hearing distinct, nail‑clicking footsteps while installing an exhibit, even counting twenty steps before the sound stopped at a locked door.
Ghostly handprints and unexplained firearms
Other reports include child‑sized handprints appearing inside glass display cases and antique firearms found cocked despite barriers preventing public access.
Checkerboard tradition grows
The checkerboard games began during an early ghost tour when Trumbull, dressed in a Civil War‑era uniform, set up a board and declared himself the winner after receiving no response. A spirit‑box‑equipped tour group later reported a voice accusing him of cheating and inviting another round. “If we’re going to do a game, it’s going to take pretty much all summer,” Trumbull said.
Community support and future plans
Ghost tours at Fort Caspar have evolved into interactive experiences that raise money for the Fort Caspar Museum Association, funding educational materials and equipment. Ongoing repairs mean tours are paused for 2026, but staff plan to resume in the spring once building foundations are reinforced.
Until then, Wickman and Trumbull will continue documenting daily history and keeping an eye on the checkerboards, ensuring the fort’s stories—both historical and paranormal—remain part of Casper’s cultural fabric.
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
