Fort Missoula facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Fort Missoula Historic District
|
|
Barracks at Fort Missoula
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | Missoula, Montana, USA |
|---|---|
| Built | 1877 |
| Architect | Civilian Conservation Corps; Et al. |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000865 |
| Added to NRHP | April 29, 1987 |
Fort Missoula was built by the United States Army in 1877. It is located in what is now Missoula, Montana. The fort was created to help protect people settling in Western Montana. There were concerns about possible conflicts with Native American tribes, like the Nez Perce.
Later, starting in 1888, Fort Missoula became home to the famous Buffalo Soldiers. These soldiers were part of the 25th Infantry Regiment. While at the fort, they tested if soldiers could travel long distances by bicycle. They went on many training rides, including one all the way to St. Louis, Missouri. Today, the Trans-America Bicycle Trail goes through Missoula. It follows some of the same paths the 25th Regiment rode.
During World War II, Fort Missoula was used as a special camp. It held Italian civilians, who called the place Bella Vista. It also held Japanese Americans who were taken into custody after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
History of Fort Missoula
Building the Fort: The 1800s
Fort Missoula was set up as a military base in 1877. It was built because local townsfolk and settlers asked for protection. They worried about possible fights with Native American tribes in western Montana. The fort was planned to be a big outpost for the area. People also knew the fort would bring jobs and money to the community. Fort Missoula was an "open fort," meaning it never had walls. This design was common for forts west of the Mississippi River. Open forts meant soldiers had to actively patrol their assigned areas.
Two groups of soldiers from the 7th Infantry arrived on June 25, 1877. They began building a small post for one company of soldiers. But construction quickly stopped. The Nez Perce tribe, led by Chiefs Joseph and Looking Glass, were moving through the area. The soldiers tried to block them in Lolo Canyon, but the Nez Perce simply went around their barricade. This spot was later called "Fort Fizzle."
Soldiers from Fort Missoula, along with others, later fought the Nez Perce at the Battle of the Big Hole. The soldiers were defeated and surrounded. Captain William Logan, who was second in command at Fort Missoula, was killed. After the battle, four companies of soldiers returned to Fort Missoula. In September 1877, General William T. Sherman visited the fort. He suggested making it bigger, for a whole battalion of soldiers. The 7th Infantry troops were replaced by soldiers from the 3rd Infantry in November 1877. These 3rd Infantry troops built most of Fort Missoula. They also fixed 100 miles of the Mullan Road, which went from Missoula to the Idaho border.
The 25th Infantry Regiment arrived at Fort Missoula in May 1888. This regiment was special because it was one of four created after the Civil War made up of Black soldiers with white officers. In 1896, Lieutenant James Moss started the 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps. He wanted to see if bicycles could be useful for the military. The corps took several short trips. They rode bicycles up the Bitterroot Valley to deliver messages. They also rode north to the St. Ignatius area and through Yellowstone National Park. Then, in 1897, they made a huge 1,900-mile trip from Fort Missoula to St. Louis. The Army decided that bicycles had some military use, but they would not replace horses. The 25th Infantry returned to Missoula by train. When the Spanish–American War began in 1898, the 25th was one of the first units sent to fight. The regiment fought bravely in Cuba and the Philippines. After the war, they were moved to other bases.
Fort Missoula in the 1900s
In 1904, Congressman Joseph Dixon from Missoula helped get $1 million to update Fort Missoula. Between 1908 and 1914, many modern concrete buildings were built. They had red tile roofs. These included new homes for officers, barracks for soldiers, and a Post Hospital.
During World War I, the fort was used as a training center. Soldiers learned to be truck drivers and mechanics there. By 1921, the fort was almost empty. However, in 1933, it became the Northwest Regional Headquarters for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC was a program that put young men to work on public lands. Fort Missoula served as the main office, training, and supply center for many CCC camps. These camps were in Montana, Northern Idaho, Glacier National Park, and Yellowstone National Park. This continued until June 1942.
In 1941, Fort Missoula was given to the Department of Immigration and Naturalization. It was used as a camp to hold non-military Italian men. These included merchant sailors, World's Fair workers, and the crew of an Italian luxury ship. Fort Missoula held over 1,200 Italian people. They called the fort "Camp Bella Vista." The Italians worked on local farms, helped fight forest fires, and worked in Missoula. They were released in 1944. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, 650 Japanese-American men were also held at the camp. These men were questioned and then quickly moved to other camps.
After World War II, the camp was used as a place for military members who broke rules. They stayed there while waiting for trials. In 1947, the fort was officially closed. Many of its buildings were sold, taken apart, and moved away. For some years, Fort Missoula was a smaller part of Fort Carson, Colorado. Most of the land is now used by non-military groups. These include the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and Missoula County. The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula is also on this land. Fort Missoula was officially closed for good in April 2001.
