Fort Benjamin Harrison facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fort Benjamin Harrison Historic District
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Graduates of the U.S. Army Chaplain School at Fort Benjamin Harrison pose for a photograph, April 1942
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 Location in Indianapolis
Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | E. 56th St.; also roughly bounded by Shafter Rd., Aultman Ave., and Glenn Rd., Lawrence Township, Marion County, Indiana |
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| Area | 360 acres (150 ha) |
| Built | 1908 |
| Built by | Army Quartermaster Corps |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 93001581, 95001359 (Boundary Increase) |
| Added to NRHP | September 6, 1995, December 1, 1995 (Boundary Increase) |
Fort Benjamin Harrison was a military base for the U.S. Army. It was located near Indianapolis, Indiana, from 1906 to 1991. The fort was named after Benjamin Harrison, who was the 23rd President of the United States.
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History of Fort Harrison
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In 1901, Russell Benjamin Harrison, the son of President Benjamin Harrison, helped sell a military storage place in downtown Indianapolis. The U.S. Army used the money from this sale to buy land in 1903. This new land is where the fort stands today. The person in charge of the Army, Elihu Root, named the new base Fort Benjamin Harrison. He did this to honor President Harrison, who was from Indianapolis.
Busiest Times: World Wars
Fort Benjamin Harrison was very busy during World War I and World War II. In 1941, a special center opened at the fort. It was a place where new soldiers, called draftees, joined the army. By 1943, this center was the largest in the United States.
Inside Fort Harrison was a place called Camp Glenn. It was named after Major General Edwin Forbes Glenn. He was in charge of Fort Harrison from 1912 to 1913. Camp Glenn was used to train citizens who wanted to join the military. It also housed workers from the Civilian Conservation Corps. This was a program that helped people find jobs during tough economic times.
When the Military Police (MPs) were started again in 1941, a special MP school opened at Camp Glenn. From 1944 to 1945, the area was also used to hold Italian and German soldiers who were captured during the war.
Changes After the Wars
In 1947, the Army said Fort Harrison was no longer fully needed. However, they didn't close it completely. This was because the Indiana National Guard still needed a place to train.
From 1948 to 1950, the fort became Benjamin Harrison Air Force Base. A part of the Air Force, the Tenth Air Force, moved its main offices there. But soon, there were too many people and not enough good buildings. So, the 10th Air Force moved to Michigan. The Army then got control of Fort Benjamin Harrison back.
Training Schools at the Fort
In 1951, the United States Army Adjutant General School moved to Fort Harrison. This school trained Army officers who handled paperwork and soldier records. In 1957, this school moved into a new building called Gates-Lord Hall. The United States Army Finance School also moved into this building. At the time, this building was one of the largest owned by the Department of Defense.
Both the Adjutant General School and the Finance School moved away from Fort Benjamin Harrison in 1995. They moved to Fort Jackson in South Carolina.
The Interservice Postal School was also at Fort Benjamin Harrison in the 1970s. This school trained military members from all branches of the U.S. military to handle mail. It also moved to Fort Jackson in 1995.
Starting in 1965, Fort Harrison was home to the Defense Information School (DINFOS). This school trained military members and other government workers to be journalists. They learned about writing, radio, television, and photography. They also learned how to manage public relations. In 1995, DINFOS moved to Fort Meade, Maryland.
Closing the Fort
Fort Benjamin Harrison was officially closed in 1991. This happened as part of a plan to reorganize military bases. The land where the base once stood has been redeveloped. Now, it has homes, a golf course, and is home to Fort Harrison State Park.
Military Presence Today
Even though the main base is closed, there are still many military groups in the area. These include:
- The Defense Finance and Accounting Service—Indianapolis, which handles money for the military.
- Several units from the United States Army Reserve, United States Marine Corps Reserve, and United States Navy Reserve.
- Indiana National Guard units.
- The United States Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS), where people go to join the military.
- An AAFES store and a commissary (a grocery store for military families).
Since 1999, the American Legion has had an operations center at Fort Harrison. This center helps manage members and sells Legion merchandise.
In 2009, the Indiana National Guard started building a new facility called the Lawrence Readiness Training Center. It opened in 2011 and houses several units, including the 76th Brigade Combat Team.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars also has its Indiana headquarters at the site.
Fort Benjamin Harrison Historic District
The Fort Benjamin Harrison Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. This means it's a special area recognized for its history. The district includes 100 important buildings, one historic site (the Parade Grounds), and three structures. These include a Water Tower, a bridge, and a Bandstand.
The buildings are made of brick and are in the Colonial Revival style. They were part of the original fort. These buildings include homes, offices, service buildings, and the hospital.
Gallery
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Building 405 - 2016
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Building 406 - 2016
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Fort Harrison Hospital and the Soldier Support Center - 2016
