Backstory

Backstory: Casper wasn’t fooled by 1938 War of the Worlds broadcast

It has become synonymous with “mass hysteria.” Orson Welles’ infamous War of the Worlds radio broadcast celebrates its 81st anniversary this year. On October 30th, 1938, the modernized and Americanized... Read more »

10/30/19 2:13 PM

Backstory: A ghostly living room survives the decades on South Durbin (Photos)

CASPER, Wyo. — A first time time visitor to Casper might be taken aback by the curious ghost sign on the side of a downtown building. While the building appears... Read more »

04/19/19 6:10 AM

Backstory: Scene of long-forgotten crash unearthed in found photos

Update: Additional information on the crash and vehicles was sent by readers to Oil City News after this article was first posted. It has been added at the end. It’s... Read more »

04/11/19 11:36 AM

Backstory: The life and fiery death of Casper’s swanky Riverside Club (Photos)

A column in the June 17, 1964 Casper Tribune reads almost like an obituary to a beloved friend. In Irving Garbutt’s “Off the Cuff” column, the writer mournfully memorializes one... Read more »

04/05/19 10:42 AM

Backstory: When Sears introduced ‘ultra modern’ shopping to Casper

Sears was once considered one of the most innovative and modern retailers in America. All that excitement and innovation seemed forgotten when Sears ended its run in Casper with barely... Read more »

02/04/19 3:10 PM

BACKSTORY: Vintage Casper Christmas (PHOTOS)

Since in the earliest days of practical photography, nothing no time of year has ever made people reach for their cameras more than Christmas. As locations, hairstyles and gifts change,... Read more »

12/18/18 5:20 AM

Hear Historic Radio Broadcasts Made During Pearl Harbor Attack in 1941

Pearl Harbor was attacked on this day in 1941, sending the United States into what would become World War II. In this age of instant and constant information, it’s almost... Read more »

12/07/18 12:55 PM

Backstory: The Parkway Plaza, now at a crossroads, was once Casper’s place to be (Photos)

The sprawling Parkway Plaza has been a fixture of Casper life for so long it’s difficult to imagine when it didn’t exist. The hotel, with over 300 rooms and whopping... Read more »

12/06/18 4:40 AM

Backstory: Murder at the The Reef Lounge

This is our third Backstory feature on The Reef Lounge. See the first two here and here. The Reef Lounge opened in 1961 on the corner of First and Center... Read more »

10/24/18 4:00 AM

Backstory: Recently discovered photos show popular Gemini Restaurant

Vince Crolla, chief curator at the Western History Center at Casper College, was recently examining a box of black & white negatives when he came across an interesting image. The... Read more »

10/12/18 10:43 AM

Backstory: ‘Coaches turned into death traps’ in 1923 train wreck near Casper

On September 23, 1923, a Chicago, Burlington & Quincy passenger train hauling nearly 70 people lumbered out of Casper’s station just after 8:30 p.m. The train pulling luxury smoking, sleeping... Read more »

09/10/18 3:33 PM

Backstory: Remembering Arcade Bar, one of downtown Casper’s longtime watering holes

There aren’t many images of the Arcade Bar on file at the Western History Center at Casper College. In spite of its current elusiveness, it was for decades one of... Read more »

08/24/18 12:44 PM

Backstory: The Playdium in downtown Casper offered games, records and a Shetland pony

Long before the days of video games, Casper youth needed something to help keep busy during their free time. An arcade would seem to be a perfect solution. There isn’t... Read more »

08/08/18 5:20 AM

Backstory: The photograph of Caspar Collins that is not Caspar Collins

Caspar Collins was called a hero when he died in 1865. He has a Wyoming town named after him, and a heroic bronze statue greets visitors to the Casper Events... Read more »

07/20/18 3:19 PM

BACKSTORY: Before the Rialto, Webel ruled a downtown corner

The Rialto Theater on the corner of Second and Center Streets is one of downtown Casper's most recognizable landmarks.

07/04/18 6:45 AM

Backstory: A horse walks into a bar…no joke

Tales of dusty cowpokes bellying up to the bar while riding their faithful horse is a well worn trope in Casper. There are indeed photos of horses inside the old... Read more »

06/14/18 4:47 PM

Backstory: The Reef Lounge Gave Casper a Taste of Tiki

Americans were giddy for Polynesian culture in the years following WWII, or at least a romanticized version of the culture. The fantasy of cool cocktails on exotic Hawaiian beaches spread... Read more »

05/04/18 1:38 PM

BACKSTORY: From Grand to Gone – The Life and Death of the Grand Central Hotel

Casper’s downtown was nothing to look at in its early days. Drafty wood buildings sprung up at breakneck speed on the boomtown’s dusty, muddy makeshift roads. That started to change... Read more »

04/12/18 11:28 AM

BACKSTORY- A Lost Casper Lunch Counter

An undated photo in the Wyoming State Archives shows a smart looking staff proudly posing in front of an modest but inviting wood building. The large sign in front says... Read more »

03/30/18 12:03 PM

Backstory: The Colorful Ghosts of the Saddle Rock Cafe (PHOTOS)

A small structure connected to the south side of the Petroleum Building hides a lot of history inside of its remaining walls. For over 35-years the space at 208 S.... Read more »

03/21/18 2:49 PM

BACKSTORY-When Carnegie Helped Casper Build Its First Library

Andrew Carnegie was born in Scotland and immigrated to the Unites States as a child with his parents. Thanks to his success in businesses ranging from oil to railroads to... Read more »

01/26/18 2:15 PM

BACKSTORY: The Rise And Fall Of The Gladstone (PHOTOS and Story)

A four-page ad supplement to the Sunday, Oct. 17, 1954 edition of the Casper Tribune-Herald & Star promised an exciting new era for downtown entertainment. “The New Sky Room offers... Read more »

01/10/18 2:50 PM

Backstory: Shop Casper…in 1957!

There was a time long ago…before Amazon and even before shopping malls…when holiday shoppers looked at their local newspaper and drove downtown for all of their shopping needs. We took... Read more »

12/18/17 2:13 PM

BACKSTORY: Ghosts of Christmas Past (PHOTOS)

As a special holiday gift, Oil City scoured the vast archives at the Western History Center at Casper College for images of Casper during the Christmas season. Shout out to... Read more »

12/07/17 9:07 AM

BACKSTORY: Haunted Happenings Inside the Historic Elks Lodge

Fraternity clubs were all the rage back in the day, and during the oil boom in the 1920s Casper’s Elks were flush with cash. In 1921 the Casper Elks Lodge... Read more »

10/25/17 2:27 PM

BACKSTORY: Haunted History of The Wonder Bar (Story and Photos)

The Wonder Bar is Casper’s most legendary boozy downtown institution. It’s also perhaps the most haunted…if you’re into that kind of thing. Two current employees at the newly remodeled C85... Read more »

10/17/17 7:55 AM

BACKSTORY-Great Pumpkins!

A vintage photograph shows two children sitting on the old courthouse steps in the early 1900s decked out for Halloween. It can be assumed that before the age of plastic... Read more »

10/05/17 9:28 AM

BACKSTORY-Second Street, 1954

A photo from the Western History Center at Casper College gives a clear view of the south side of Second Street facing west in 1954. A cafe and bar prominently... Read more »

09/26/17 7:05 AM

BACKSTORY-Found Photos Show Life In Early Casper

A group of found photos from a family photo album show pieces of Casper that seem completely foreign now. The photos were rescued by Survivor AC Dealers owner Reed Merschat.... Read more »

09/13/17 12:06 PM

BACKSTORY: This Old House Was Once Casper’s Earliest Hospital

A historic photo from the Western History Center at Casper College shows a handsome two story house with an exact address on S. Durbin and the title “Dr. Lathrop’s Private... Read more »

09/04/17 6:25 AM

BACKSTORY: Casper’s Old Central School

Classes for the 2017-2018 public school year are set to begin on Tuesday, Sept. 5. The first day of public school in Casper happened sometime in 1891, when Central School... Read more »

08/31/17 3:12 PM

Backstory: Casper’s Center Street From Boom To Bust To…Boom?

The Wyoming History Center at Casper College has no shortage of historic images of Casper’s Center Street. It’s not surprising since the street has been something of the backbone of... Read more »

08/24/17 5:57 AM

Backstory: St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

The St. Mark’s Episcopal parish was established in Casper in 1890. According to their website, the parish built their first building on the corner of 2nd and Wolcott in 1891.... Read more »

08/08/17 9:39 AM

Backstory: Photo Album Gives Glimpse Of Casper Family’s Life

Antique stores and flea markets are full of them. Countless of family snapshots, once cherished but now useless and discarded. Photography freezes memories and moments, but those memories are only... Read more »

07/26/17 4:43 PM

Backstory: Hidden In Plain Sight

Locating two houses featured in a 110-year-old photo isn’t always so easy, particularly if the houses in question have been modified over the decades. The vintage photo from the Casper... Read more »

07/19/17 9:52 AM

Older Posts

Backstory

Backstory: Casper wasn’t fooled by 1938 War of the Worlds broadcast

Backstory: Remembering the Rex, Casper’s first luxury theater (Photos)

Siblings unite after nearly 30 years of searching

Backstory: Parades of Casper’s Past (Photos)

Backstory: Yes, Virginia, this Casper hotel has crazy history

Backstory: This lost Casper hotel was a Palace in name only

Backstory: A ghostly living room survives the decades on South Durbin (Photos)

Backstory: Scene of long-forgotten crash unearthed in found photos

Backstory: The life and fiery death of Casper’s swanky Riverside Club (Photos)

Backstory: When Sears introduced ‘ultra modern’ shopping to Casper

BACKSTORY: Vintage Casper Christmas (PHOTOS)

Hear Historic Radio Broadcasts Made During Pearl Harbor Attack in 1941

Backstory: The Parkway Plaza, now at a crossroads, was once Casper’s place to be (Photos)

Backstory: Murder at the The Reef Lounge

Backstory: Recently discovered photos show popular Gemini Restaurant

Backstory: ‘Coaches turned into death traps’ in 1923 train wreck near Casper

Backstory: Remembering Arcade Bar, one of downtown Casper’s longtime watering holes

Backstory: The Playdium in downtown Casper offered games, records and a Shetland pony

Backstory: The photograph of Caspar Collins that is not Caspar Collins

BACKSTORY: Before the Rialto, Webel ruled a downtown corner

Backstory: A horse walks into a bar…no joke

Backstory: The Reef Lounge Gave Casper a Taste of Tiki

BACKSTORY: From Grand to Gone – The Life and Death of the Grand Central Hotel

BACKSTORY- A Lost Casper Lunch Counter

Backstory: The Colorful Ghosts of the Saddle Rock Cafe (PHOTOS)

BACKSTORY-When Carnegie Helped Casper Build Its First Library

BACKSTORY: The Rise And Fall Of The Gladstone (PHOTOS and Story)

Backstory: Shop Casper…in 1957!

BACKSTORY: Ghosts of Christmas Past (PHOTOS)

BACKSTORY: Haunted Happenings Inside the Historic Elks Lodge

BACKSTORY: Haunted History of The Wonder Bar (Story and Photos)

BACKSTORY-Great Pumpkins!

BACKSTORY-Second Street, 1954

BACKSTORY-Found Photos Show Life In Early Casper

BACKSTORY: This Old House Was Once Casper’s Earliest Hospital

BACKSTORY: Casper’s Old Central School

Backstory: Casper’s Center Street From Boom To Bust To…Boom?

Backstory: St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

Backstory: Photo Album Gives Glimpse Of Casper Family’s Life

Backstory: Hidden In Plain Sight

Crime

Animals

Red Chevy spotted speeding away after double moose poaching in Idaho

Data shows upswing in child exploitation cases

Warrant Roundup (11/14/19)

Evansville Warrant Watch: Bernhardt, Montoya, Phelps, McNaughton

Recent Arrests (11/14/19)

Obituaries

Breaking News

Obituaries: Hall, Schanck, Sr.

Obituaries: McKinney, Crawford

Obituaries: Slack, Phillips-Diaz, Miller, Virgilio

Obituaries: Glenn, Thomas

Obituaries: LaPlatney, Moore

Community

Breaking News

Natural Grocers organic soybeans recalled due to mold, distributed in Wyoming

Red Chevy spotted speeding away after double moose poaching in Idaho

Just after Casper joins state health insurance pool, Wyoming may eliminate that option

Casper City Council considers pushing for special land tax, briefly

Data shows upswing in child exploitation cases

Wyoming

Breaking News

Just after Casper joins state health insurance pool, Wyoming may eliminate that option

BLM proposes 105 parcels for oil and gas lease sale

BLM Wyoming plans to lease 120,000 acres in spring oil and gas sale

UW launching new online accounting degree in spring 2020

Wyoming names new state archaeologist who specializes in early hunter-gatherer research

Promoted

Community Health Center of Central Wyoming

Community Health Centers of Central Wyoming welcomes Venessa Yoosook, NP to Pediatrics.

Save Money on your Health Insurance

Five local finalists to compete at UW’s Casper Start-Up Challenge ‘Pitch Night’

Building the Future – A Conversation with Joe Johnston, P.E.

TOYTOWN FUNDAY SATURDAY, NOV. 9th

Galleries

Breaking News

Searchers take to horseback and sky on fifth day of search for missing Casper boy (Photos)

KWHS beats Cheyenne Central, heads to semifinals in state volleyball (PHOTOS)