Fort Harrison State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fort Harrison State Park
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
Fort Harrison State Park Location in Indiana
Location	Marion County, Indiana, USA
Nearest city	Lawrence, Indiana
Area	1,700 acres (6.9 km2)
Established	1996
Governing body	Indiana Department of Natural Resources

Fort Harrison, sometimes called Fort Ben, is an Indiana state park located in Lawrence, Indiana, United States. It sits on part of the land that used to be Fort Benjamin Harrison. The park has a history that includes being a training camp for citizens and a camp for prisoners of war during World War II. Today, it's a great place for picnics, walking, and jogging.

History of Fort Harrison State Park

How Fort Harrison Began

Fort Harrison was first opened in 1906 by United States President Theodore Roosevelt. It was named to honor former President Benjamin Harrison, who was from Indianapolis. The idea for the fort came from Lieutenant Colonel Russell Harrison, Benjamin Harrison's son. He wanted to keep a military base in Indianapolis. On June 28, 1904, the government decided to buy land for military use. This land was about nine miles (14 km) from downtown Indianapolis.

The fort was finished in 1908. Workers built brick barracks, headquarters, and a hospital. They also built homes for officers and stables for horses. The Tenth Infantry Regiment moved in right after these buildings were ready.

Fort Harrison's Role in Wars

This fort was important because it was one of the first places to train a national army using state militia forces. It served as a place for classes, soldier support, and troop reception. This happened for all United States military activities from World War I to Operation: Desert Storm. During World War II, the base even had a prisoner of war camp.

From Military Base to State Park

After the Cold War, the United States government started closing military bases. So, in 1991, Fort Harrison in Indianapolis was closed down. The base had many cool features. These included an officers' club, three officers' homes, and a large golf course. It also had one of the biggest hardwood forests in central Indiana.

In 1995, the United States Department of the Interior decided to give 1,700 acres (6.9 km2) of Fort Harrison's land to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. This land was then used to create a state park. This was similar to how Charlestown State Park started in Southern Indiana.

Special Guests at Harrison House

In 2003, the Indiana Governor's mansion was being updated. It was made easier for people with disabilities to use. During this time, Indiana governor Frank O'Bannon and his wife lived at the Harrison House. This is an inn located inside the park. Before the park was created, the Harrison House was a nurses' dorm during World War II. Later, it became a special residence for important visitors. The O'Bannons lived there for most of the year. Once the governor's mansion was finished, they moved out. The Harrison House then became available for everyone to use again.

Future Plans for the Park

There are plans to move the Bell Ford Bridge from Jackson County, Indiana, into the park. This bridge would give pedestrians and bikers another way to cross Fall Creek.

What to Do at Fort Harrison State Park

Fall Creek Boardwalk

Park Features and Activities

Fort Harrison is mostly a day-use park. This means it's for visiting during the day. The only place to stay overnight is The Fort Golf Resort, which used to be the old officers' club. The park's eighteen-hole golf course is very popular with golfers from Indianapolis. It was redesigned after the fort closed and is now a 72-par course. Only golfers are allowed on the course. The special VIP housing became the Harrison House Suites. Four of the old Officer's Homes are also available for overnight stays.

Trails and Outdoor Fun

The park has six hiking trails. There is also one trail for horseback riding, and you can rent horses there. One of the hiking trails, Harrison Trace Trail, is paved. This makes it great for bikers and in-line skaters. The longest trail is the Lawrence Creek Trail. It is 4.2 miles (6.8 km) long and is a single-track trail for mountain biking and walking. The park has many beautiful wildflowers. You can also go biking and fishing. The park office sells the state fishing permit you need. In winter, you can even go ice fishing. The park office also has an interpretive center. It teaches visitors about the park's history and its natural environment.

Wildlife and Nature

Fall Creek flows for 3.5 miles (5.6 km) inside the park. Smaller streams also feed into it within the park's boundaries. You can often see beavers, deer, frogs, squirrels, and turtles in the park. There is a special heron pond, but visitors are not allowed to go there.

Museum of 20th Century Warfare

The Museum of 20th Century Warfare is located in Building 711. This building is in the Historic Camp Glenn area of the park. The museum has exhibits about the Fort's history. It also shows technology, artifacts, uniforms, and soldiers from the 20th Century. A 14-foot (4.3 m) model of the USS Indianapolis is a permanent exhibit. Temporary exhibits change every three months. The museum also has re-enactments and living history camps. There is no extra fee to enter the museum, just the fee to enter the park itself.

Images for kids

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  Governor Evan Bayh joins youth at the opening of Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park