Fort Des Moines Provisional Army Officer Training School facts for kids
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Fort Des Moines Provisional Army Officer Training School
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Bachelor Officers Quarters
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | Army Post Road, Des Moines, Iowa |
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| Area | 204 acres (83 ha) |
| Built | 1903 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000805 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 30, 1974 |
| Designated NHLD | May 30, 1974 |
The Fort Des Moines Provisional Army Officer Training School was a special military base. It was located on the south side of Des Moines, Iowa. The base started in 1901.
This fort is very important for two main reasons. First, it was where African Americans trained to become officers for the U.S. Army during World War I. This was a big step forward! Second, it was where women first began training for U.S. Army service in 1942. They were part of the Women's Army Corps.
Some of the old parts of the base are still standing today. They were named a National Historic Landmark in 1974. This was to honor their important history. The fort property was given to the city in the 1950s. Now, different groups use the land for many things.
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A Look at Military History
There have actually been three forts named Fort Des Moines. This one was the third. It was built in 1901 on a large piece of land. This land was several miles south of downtown Des Moines. At that time, it was outside the city limits.
Early Days of the Fort
The fort was first set up for cavalry. These were soldiers who rode horses. Construction began in 1903. They built barracks for soldiers, stables for horses, and homes for officers.
In 1917, something amazing happened. The first group of African American men trained here to become officers. They were the first in U.S. military history. After their training at Fort Des Moines, they became officers. Also in 1917, a training camp for black medical workers started. In 1918, the fort helped treat soldiers injured in World War I.
Changes Over the Years
In the 1920s and early 1930s, military units lived at the fort again. Some were cavalry, and some were artillery (soldiers who use big guns). From 1933 to 1934, the fort was used as a Civilian Conservation Corps camp. This was a program that helped young men find work during a tough economic time.
When the United States joined World War II, the fort became a training center for women. These women served in the Army's Women's Army Corps (WAC). After the war, the fort housed veteran soldiers for a while. Then, in the early 1950s, it was given to the city. A part of the old fort grounds became a U.S. Army Reserve training center in 1949. It is still used for this purpose today.
What Happened Later?
Most of the original 640-acre base was sold. The city grew, and new buildings were put up. The main part of the base that is still left is around the old parade ground. This area is at the northwest corner of the original land.
Modern Uses of the Land
Parts of the former base are now used for the Blank Park Zoo. An apartment complex has also been built on part of the parade ground. But many of the fort's original buildings are still standing. They are mostly on the southern and eastern edges of the parade ground. These buildings used to be barracks, officers' homes, and stables. Now, they are used for different community and business purposes.
These surviving parts of the fort were named a National Historic Landmark in 1974. This was to recognize their important role. They helped African Americans and women advance in the United States military.
Fort Des Moines Museum
The Fort Des Moines Museum and Education Center is also on the site. It celebrates the U.S. Army's first officer training class for African American men in 1917. It also honors the start of the first Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC's) in 1942.
See also
