Fort Lapwai facts for kids
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Fort Lapwai was an important military fort in Idaho, United States. It was active from 1862 to 1884. You can find it today in Lapwai, which is part of the Nez Perce Indian Reservation.
When it was first built, it was called Camp Lapwai. It was located on the west side of Lapwai Creek, not far from where it meets the Clearwater River. This area was also home to Idaho's first settlement, Lapwai Mission Station (now Spalding), which was built in 1836. Today, Fort Lapwai is part of the larger Nez Perce National Historical Park. The name "Lapwai" comes from a word meaning "place of the butterflies," because many butterflies used to gather there in early summer.
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Building Fort Lapwai
Camp Lapwai was started by Major Jacob S. Rinearson. He was part of the 1st Oregon Cavalry, a group of soldiers. A high-ranking army officer, Brigadier General Benjamin Alvord, gave the order to build it.
The main reason for building the fort was to keep peace. Many white settlers were moving into the area. They sometimes tried to take land that belonged to the Nez Perce tribe. The fort was there to stop these settlers from moving onto Nez Perce lands. It also helped prevent the Nez Perce people from fighting back.
In October 1862, a group of soldiers called Company E of the 1st Regiment Washington Territory Volunteer Infantry arrived. They had just joined the army. Their job was to build the camp near the Nez Perce Agency, which was like an office for dealing with the Nez Perce tribe. In November 1862, another group, Company "F" of the 1st Oregon Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, joined them.
Changes and Closure
In 1863, the camp was officially renamed Fort Lapwai. This happened around the same time the Idaho Territory was created.
The fort was not always busy with soldiers.
- In 1866, after the Civil War ended, the volunteer soldiers went home. There weren't enough regular army troops to take their place, so the fort was empty for a short time.
- It was used again in November of that year.
- Then, it was empty again between July and November of 1867.
Finally, on June 5, 1884, the fort was officially closed down. It was then given to the Indian Service. The Indian Service was a government agency that worked with Native American tribes.
What Happened After the Fort Closed?
Even after the fort closed, the site remained important.
- In 1904, the Northern Idaho Indian Agency moved its offices to the old fort site. Some of the original buildings from the fort are still there today.
- In 1907, a special hospital called a tuberculosis sanatorium was built at the fort. A sanatorium was a place where people with tuberculosis, a serious lung disease, could go to get better. There was also a preventorium for people who were at risk of getting the disease. This hospital helped people until 1944.
- The nearby village of Lapwai officially became a town in 1911. It even had a special school that was a model for other rural schools.
Who Was Stationed at Fort Lapwai?
Different groups of soldiers were stationed at Fort Lapwai during its active years:
- Company E, 1st Regiment Washington Territory Volunteer Infantry: October 1862 to October 1864
- Company "F", 1st Oregon Cavalry Regiment: November 1862 to May 1865
