Fort Logan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Logan |
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| Denver, Colorado | |
Graves at Fort Logan National Cemetery on the site of the old Fort Logan burial grounds.
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| Type | Fort |
| Site history | |
| Built | 31 October 1887 |
| Built by | United States Army |
| In use | 1887 – 1946 |
| Fate | 75 Acres became Fort Logan National Cemetery, much of the remainder given to Colorado Mental Health Institute |
Fort Logan was a military base located about eight miles southwest of Denver, Colorado. It was started in October 1887 when the first soldiers set up camp there. The fort was active until 1946, when it closed after World War II ended.
After the fort closed, part of the land became the Fort Logan National Cemetery. The rest of the land was used to create a mental health center.
Contents
The Story of Fort Logan
Building a New Kind of Fort
In the late 1800s, there were fewer conflicts between Native American tribes and the growing American population. The United States Army wanted to save money. They decided to close faraway frontier forts and use railroads to move soldiers and supplies instead.
In 1886, important citizens in Denver wanted to help their local economy. They raised money and gave land to the Army to build a new fort nearby. In October 1887, the first soldiers arrived from other posts. They set up 26 tents on the land, which was then called "Camp Near the City of Denver."
Naming the Fort
The camp was on a flat area with no trees, about eight miles southwest of Denver. People in the area unofficially started calling it "Fort Sheridan." This was in honor of General Philip Sheridan, who had chosen the spot.
However, General Sheridan preferred his name to be on a fort near Chicago. So, on April 5, 1889, the camp was officially named "Fort Logan." It was named after John Alexander Logan, a famous general and politician.
Construction and Early Troops
Construction on this new "city-style" fort began quickly. Even though work started fast, the last buildings were not finished until 1897. The fort had a large parade ground and living quarters for soldiers.
One building, the Field Officer's Quarters from 1888, was designed by Frank J. Godavent. It still stands today and was restored in 2009. As the barracks for infantry soldiers were completed, the 7th Infantry moved from Fort Laramie, Wyoming, to make Fort Logan their new home. From 1894 to 1904, cavalry units (soldiers who ride horses) were also stationed at Fort Logan.
Fort Logan in Action
Soldiers from Fort Logan were involved in military actions right from the start. In December 1890, troops were sent to South Dakota. Their mission was to stop Sioux tribal groups.
In 1894, soldiers were called in to help with civil unrest in Denver. This happened during a disagreement involving Governor Davis Hanson Waite and the city hall. Later that year, Fort Logan troops were sent south during the Pullman Strike, a big railroad workers' strike. Units from Fort Logan also fought in the 1898 Spanish–American War.
Growth and Changes Over Time
In 1908, the fort added 340 acres, bringing its total size to 940 acres. In 1909, Fort Logan became a recruit depot. This meant it was a place where new soldiers were trained. It continued in this role until 1922.
In 1927, an Engineering unit moved into Fort Logan. They made big improvements to the base during the Great Depression, a time of great economic hardship.
World War II and Beyond
On March 1, 1941, the United States Army Air Corps moved a clerical school to Fort Logan. This school trained office workers for the Army Air Forces. In 1942, the Administrative Inspector School opened, which trained air inspectors.
In April 1944, Fort Logan's purpose changed again. It began training injured soldiers in civilian jobs to help them after the war. The fort was also briefly used as a prisoner of war camp in 1943 and 1944. After World War II ended, the fort was no longer needed by the Army.
Negotiations began to decide what to do with the land. Some land was sold. About 75 acres, including the old burial ground, became the Fort Logan National Cemetery. The rest of the land was given to the state of Colorado. The state used the site as a mental health center, and the first patients arrived in 1961. In 1991, the center was renamed the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan.
Notable People at Fort Logan
- From 1901 to 1902, General Arthur MacArthur, the father of famous General Douglas MacArthur, was in charge of the fort.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower, who later became a United States President, worked as a recruiting officer at Fort Logan from 1924 to 1925 when he was a Major.
