Fort Henrietta Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Henrietta Historic Park |
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 Fort Henrietta Historic Park
Location in Oregon
Fort Henrietta Historic Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Umatilla County, Oregon, USA |
| Nearest city | Echo, Oregon |
| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Established | 1988 |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
Fort Henrietta Historic Park is a cool public park in Echo, Oregon, United States. It sits right on the north side of the Umatilla River. This park is super important because it was once a Native American Agency and later a fort for the Oregon Militia. The park got its name from Henrietta Haller, who was the wife of Major Granville O. Haller, an American military officer during the Cayuse War.
This park is also a special spot along the famous Oregon Trail. Many pioneers and travelers camped here as they journeyed through northern Oregon. The south part of the park was known as the "Lower Crossing" of the Umatilla River for stagecoaches and freight wagons. There was also an "Upper Crossing" located in Pendleton, Oregon.
Park History
Digging up old things at the Fort Henrietta-Utilla Indian Agency Site shows that Native Americans lived here, at least part-time, for over 3,500 years! It was probably a busy travel spot because of the Umatilla River.
In 1851, an agency was set up for the Umatilla, Cayuse, and Walla Walla people. It had a post office across the Umatilla River. This post office was a stop on the mail route between The Dalles and Salt Lake City. In 1855, the Cayuse people burned down the Agency during the Yakima War. After that, the Oregon militia built a frontier outpost called Fort Henrietta.
What You Can Do at the Park
Fort Henrietta Park has cool displays that tell the story of the old U.S. Army fort. This fort was used from 1855 to 1856. The displays also show how European Americans and Native Americans interacted around that time.
You can see old logging equipment and a copy of a frontier-era blockhouse. This blockhouse was the first jail for Umatilla County! The park also has:
- A covered wagon museum
- Antique fire equipment
- A public spot to get to the Umatilla River
The fort overlooks the beautiful Umatilla River. The park also includes a small recreational vehicle (RV) park and campground. Plus, there's a fun playground and a skate park for everyone to enjoy.
