Fort Howard (Wisconsin) facts for kids

Fort Howard from the Fox River

Fort Howard on the 1835 Tourist's Pocket Map of Michigan among the "Mennomonie" villages of Wisconsin Territory

Fort Howard was an important fort built by the U.S. Army in the 1800s. It was located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, right next to the Fox River. This fort played a key role in protecting important routes in the central United States.

History of Fort Howard

Fort Howard was built during the War of 1812. It was constructed to protect a very important travel route called the Fox-Wisconsin Waterway. This waterway connected Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River. It was a major path for trade and travel. The fort helped protect this route from British attacks.

The fort was built where an older French fort, called Fort La Baye, once stood. The British had renamed it Fort Edward Augustus in 1761. Building Fort Howard cost about $16,644.70. A famous person named Zachary Taylor even commanded the fort for a while.

In 1820, there was an outbreak of malaria, a serious illness. Because of this, the soldiers moved to a nearby place called Camp Smith, which was on higher ground. Fort Howard was used again two years later.

The fort was left empty again in 1841. This happened when the soldiers were sent to Florida to fight in the Seminole Wars. Fort Howard was officially closed in 1853.

After the fort closed, its buildings started to fall apart. Some of the structures were moved to the Camp Smith site. Today, these buildings are part of the Heritage Hill State Historical Park. Three buildings that remain from Fort Howard are special enough to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the hospital, the hospital ward, and the officers' quarters.

Later Use of the Name

In the 1900s, a company called the Fort Howard Paper Company was started in Green Bay. It was a large company that made paper products. Austin E. Cofrin founded it in 1919. This company later joined with other companies, becoming part of Georgia-Pacific in 2000.

Images for kids

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  Kitchen

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  Hospital during 2014 restoration

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  Dining area in Officers' Quarters

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  Side of Officers' Quarters

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  Looking southeast at courtyard

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  Looking northwest across courtyard

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  School

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  Ward

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  Guard house during 2014 reconstruction