Fort Bellingham facts for kids
Fort Bellingham was a fort built by the United States Army between 1856 and 1860. It was located in what is now Bellingham, Washington. The fort's main job was to protect nearby villages like Fairhaven, Sehome, and Whatcom. It aimed to prevent attacks from some Native American tribes coming from Canada and Russian territory.
The fort was built on an open grassy area overlooking Bellingham Bay. This spot was chosen because it was flat and had a natural spring for water. A settler named Maria Roberts lived there, and she had to move so the fort could be built. Later, she and her husband were allowed to build a small cabin nearby.
Building the Fort
The construction of Fort Bellingham began on August 26, 1856. It was built by George E. Pickett, a Captain in the United States Army. He led Company D of the 9th U.S. Infantry Regiment, which came from Fort Steilacoom.
The fort was shaped like a square, about 80 yards (73 meters) on each side. It had strong wooden walls called a stockade and three gates. At two opposite corners, there were two-story blockhouses. These were strong buildings with small openings in the walls for soldiers to fire rifles and small cannons. Inside the stockade, there were several wooden buildings. These included barracks for soldiers, storage rooms, officers' quarters, a dining hall, a kitchen, and a bakery.
The Pig War
In July 1859, a strange event called the Pig War happened on San Juan Island. It started when an American settler shot a pig belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company. This company was British, and the island's ownership was disputed between the U.S. and Britain.
When British officials threatened to arrest the American settler, U.S. Army General William S. Harney sent Captain Pickett's company from Fort Bellingham to San Juan Island. Their mission was to protect American interests. In response, the British sent warships and soldiers.
Fort Bellingham's Role in the War
While the American and British forces faced off on San Juan Island, Captain Pickett's men returned to Fort Bellingham. They took apart some parts of the fort, including one of the blockhouses. These pieces were then moved and rebuilt on San Juan Island. This new camp was first called "Camp Pickett" and later "Post of San Juan".
Closing of the Fort
After the Pig War, other army units used parts of Fort Bellingham to repair or improve their camp on San Juan Island. In 1861, the government of Washington Territory asked the U.S. government to keep the fort open. However, this never happened.
Fort Bellingham officially closed in 1863. By then, only the blockhouse on the northwest corner and a few other buildings were left.
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In 1868, the Army gave back about 320 acres (1.3 square kilometers) of land to Mrs. Roberts, the settler who had lived there before. She continued to live and farm on the land for many years. The last remaining blockhouse burned down in 1897.
Today, not much is left of Fort Bellingham. However, the officer's quarters, where Captain George E. Pickett and his wife lived, has been preserved. It is now located at 910 Bancroft Street in Bellingham, Washington. The original site of the fort is several miles north along Bellingham Bay, closer to the mouth of the Nooksack River.
