Backstory

Backstory: Snow-covered scenes from Casper’s past (PHOTOS)

CASPER, Wyo. – It’s understandable to feel a little hopeless this time of year. The first snow of the season is usually met with excitement and glee, coupled with the... Read more »

02/06/20 2:24 PM

Hidden Casper: Long-lost Chevy relics appear during Nolan renovation

01/29/20 3:19 PM

Backstory: Footage from 1930 shows Casper and Salt Creek Oil Fields in operation

01/02/20 10:51 AM

Siblings unite after nearly 30 years of searching

CASPER, Wyo. — Natrona County Undersheriff Mark Sellers was born in Denver in 1967. His biological mother put him up for adoption and a family in Colorado Springs brought Sellers... Read more »

07/19/19 2:29 PM

Backstory: Parades of Casper’s Past (Photos)

Like countless communities around the globe, Casper loves its parades. Casper College Western History Center archivist Vince Crolla searched the college’s collection for the best parade photos made over the... Read more »

07/09/19 4:47 PM

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

CASPER, Wyo – The red brick building on the corner of First and Market Streets is a quiet place these days. The building is currently home to several recently built... Read more »

05/20/19 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: Found photo brings back ghost of Casper’s Spaniol Motors

A long-forgotten photo of a big American coupe parked in front of a dealership was recently brought back to life. The nugget of Casper’s past is one of thousands of... Read more »

02/18/19 2:15 PM

BACKSTORY: Vintage Casper Christmas (PHOTOS)

Since in the earliest days of practical photography, no time of year has ever made people reach for their cameras more than Christmas. As locations, hairstyles and gifts change, the... 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: 1938 War of the Worlds broadcast prompts Casper discussion, no panic reported

It has become synonymous with "mass hysteria."

10/30/18 3:52 PM

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: More photos of Casper’s mysterious tiki lounge The Reef have surfaced

In a Backstory published earlier this year, we told you about a long-lost elaborate tiki lounge located on the corner of First and Center Streets right next to The America... Read more »

08/16/18 5:48 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: A Lost Old Garage Gets New Love

The building is on the National Historic Register list, even though half of it was hidden under a 70s-era addition when it was nominated. Casper’s historic Fire Station No. 1... Read more »

05/31/18 1:34 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-The Sullivan Mansion Still Impresses

One of the most stately historic mansions in central Casper has sat on the corner of 10th and Center Streets since it was built in 1909. The impressive 7,500 square... Read more »

01/31/18 11:24 AM

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: First Football Team at NCHS

Eighteen young men looking stoically into the lens represent Casper’s first ever high school football team. The high quality studio portrait dates from 1908 and is in the Western History... Read more »

11/16/17 10:30 AM

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-Casper In Living Neon Color

Pre-1970s Casper is well documented in black and white photos, many of them stunning. However, when a color photograph comes our way it tends to stand out, and what better... Read more »

09/19/17 6:06 AM

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

Older Posts

Backstory

Backstory: Snow-covered scenes from Casper’s past (PHOTOS)

Hidden Casper: Long-lost Chevy relics appear during Nolan renovation

Backstory: Footage from 1930 shows Casper and Salt Creek Oil Fields in operation

Backstory: Color photo of Casper’s first McDonald’s brings 1960s back to life

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: 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: Found photo brings back ghost of Casper’s Spaniol Motors

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: 1938 War of the Worlds broadcast prompts Casper discussion, no panic reported

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: More photos of Casper’s mysterious tiki lounge The Reef have surfaced

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: A Lost Old Garage Gets New Love

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-The Sullivan Mansion Still Impresses

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

Backstory: Shop Casper…in 1957!

BACKSTORY: Ghosts of Christmas Past (PHOTOS)

BACKSTORY: First Football Team at NCHS

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

BACKSTORY-Great Pumpkins!

BACKSTORY-Second Street, 1954

BACKSTORY-Casper In Living Neon Color

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?

Crime

Community

Weekly Arrests (2/14/20 – 2/21/20)

Casper PD Incident Report Map (2/20/20 – 2/21/20)

Recent Arrests (2/20/20 – 2/21/20)

Three more juveniles arrested, more guns recovered

Casper PD Incident Report Map (2/19/20 – 2/20/20)

Obituaries

Latest News

Obituaries: Walker-Rowe, Bremer, Reese

Obituaries: Rowe, Spethman, Kelly, Murray

Obituaries: Venegoni, Johnson, Zietz, Morton

Obituaries: Reynolds, Smith, Humes, Jr., Richter

Obituaries: Knapp, Mills, Culbertson, Sander

Community

City

Natrona County School District High School Honor Rolls- 2nd Quarter

Natrona County School District Middle School Honor Rolls- 2nd Quarter

Weekly Arrests (2/14/20 – 2/21/20)

Helicopter sharpshooters to kill Grand Teton nonnative goats

Natrona County Sheriff warns of phone ‘spoofing,’ possible scam

Wyoming

Education

University of Wyoming Fall Semester Honor Rolls

Natrona County School District High School Honor Rolls- 2nd Quarter

Natrona County School District Middle School Honor Rolls- 2nd Quarter

Suspect dies after jumping from vehicle during Wyoming highway chase

Helicopter sharpshooters to kill Grand Teton nonnative goats

Promoted

Casper College

CC Dance Production “The Yellow Wallpaper” Adapted and Choreographed By Local Instructor

Registration For 4th Annual Be Kind to Your Mind 5k/10k/Family Fun Run and Obstacle Course Now Open

CDC+ Reading Coaching

Wyoming’s leading independent radiology group recognized for achieving the highest standard in breast ultrasound imaging

Casper College homecoming festivities to include revival of pep band and fight song

Galleries

Galleries

New 3D digital x-ray brings ‘science fiction’ into reality

Photos: David Street Station plaza lets ice slip, preps for warmer seasons