In the winter of 1856, Congress made an appropriation to construct the Fort Kearny, South Pass and Honey Lake Wagon Road, with the object of opening a highway which would permit emigrants to reach the Pacific Coast without having to pass through Salt Lake. William McGraw secured the contract for construction of this road, with the understanding that a military escort would accompany the road builder. Winter quarters were selected on the Popo Agie River at the point two miles northeast of where Lander now stands, and the building of a fort was commenced, which was called Camp McGraw. In the spring of 1859, Colonel F.W. Lander arrived and assumed command of the fort. It was moved to the present site of Lander and named Camp Auger, after General Auger of the United States Army. Later the name was changed to Camp Brown and moved to the present site Fort Washakie. Ben F. Lowe settled at the site of the present Lander in 1859 and he and Colonel Lander became great friends. Lowe laid out the town site in 1884, together with P.P. Dickinson and Eugene Amoretti, Sr. Lowe suggested the name of his friend Lander as a suitable name for the town, which was agreed to by the residents who were located there.