Fort Omaha facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fort Omaha Historic District
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Nebraska State Historical Marker for Fort Omaha at 30th and Fort Streets
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 Location in Nebraska
Location in the United States
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| Location | Omaha, Nebraska |
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| Built | December 5, 1868 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001112 |
| Added to NRHP | March 27, 1974 |
Fort Omaha is a historic place in Omaha, Nebraska. It was once a very important United States Army base. It was first called Sherman Barracks and then Omaha Barracks. The fort was a supply center during the American Indian Wars.
Today, most of Fort Omaha is used by the Metropolitan Community College. Some parts still house Navy, Marine, and Army Reserve units. The fort is famous for holding Ponca Chief Standing Bear before his important trial in 1879. This trial helped show that Native Americans had legal rights. Fort Omaha is now a historic district and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Discovering Fort Omaha's Past
Fort Omaha opened in 1868. It was a place to store supplies for other forts along the Platte River. Today, it is mainly a college campus. But it still has military reserve units. The fort is in the Miller Park area of North Omaha. A special building there, the General Crook House, is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The entire fort area is recognized as a historic district.
A Look Back: Fort Omaha's History
The fort started on December 5, 1868. It was first called Sherman Barracks. Captain William Sinclair named it after General William Tecumseh Sherman. The fort was built on 82.5 acres of land. This land was about four miles north of Omaha. A businessman named Augustus Kountze sold the land to the government. The name changed to Omaha Barracks the next year. General Sherman reportedly thought the fort was too small to be named after him.
On December 30, 1878, the post officially became Fort Omaha. It was the main office for the U.S. Army's Department of the Platte from 1878 to 1881. Many soldiers stayed at the fort until 1896. Then, they moved to Fort Crook near Bellevue.
Chief Standing Bear's Landmark Trial
Fort Omaha played a key role in a very important trial in 1879. This was the Standing Bear v. Crook trial. Ponca Chief Standing Bear was held at the fort before the trial. He argued in court that Native Americans were "persons within the meaning of the law." This meant they had rights like other citizens.
During the trial, Standing Bear got help from Susette LaFlesche Tibbles. She was a famous Omaha woman. Her father, Iron Eye, was the last recognized chief of the Omaha. Standing Bear's lawyer was Andrew Jackson Poppleton. He was a well-known Omaha attorney. This trial was very important for civil rights. It helped make Fort Omaha a historic district.
Fort Omaha in Wars
During the Spanish–American War, Fort Omaha was a gathering place for troops. Soldiers from all over Nebraska came here. Other nearby camps were also under the fort's command.
In World War II, Fort Omaha was used as a prisoner-of-war camp. It held Italian Army soldiers captured in Europe.
Famous People at Fort Omaha
- Major General George Crook
- Major General Stuart Heintzelman
- Brigadier General Dan Christie Kingman
Fort Omaha Balloon School
In 1907, the Army built a large steel hangar at Fort Omaha. They wanted to experiment with dirigibles, which are like early airships. This program ended in 1909. A balloon house was built in 1908. The first balloon flight happened in 1909. The military also got more land for training. This area was called Florence Field.
When the United States entered World War I, many men joined the Army's Aviation Section. About 800 men came to the Fort Omaha Balloon School for training. They learned to use balloons to spot things for artillery. More than 16,000 airmen trained at this school.
In 1917, the Army decided the weather at Fort Omaha was not good for fast balloon training. The next year, some officers and men moved to Camp John Wise in Texas. The Balloon School at Fort Omaha soon closed. Sadly, at Florence Field in 1918, two soldiers died and thirteen were hurt. This happened when a training balloon exploded.
Notable Balloon School Personnel
- Major Charles DeF. Chandler
- Captain Frank Purdy Lahm
- Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge
Fort Omaha's Historic Buildings
Fort Omaha has six buildings from the 1800s that are still standing. The whole site is very important to U.S. history. Because of this, Fort Omaha has many historical honors. The Department of the Interior named Fort Omaha a historic district. The General Crook House is also on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1982, the Fort Omaha Guardhouse became an official Landmark for the City of Omaha.
General Crook House Museum
This beautiful house was finished in 1879. It was built for General and Mrs. Crook. He used it while leading the Indian Wars. Today, it is a museum run by the Douglas County Historical Society. Inside, you can see furniture from the 1800s. There are also military exhibits. The gardens around the house have been restored to look like they did in the Victorian era. The house is in the middle of Fort Omaha. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.
Headquarters Building
The U.S. Army built the Headquarters Building in 1879. It was first the main office for the Department of the Platte. General George Crook was in charge here. In 1881, the headquarters moved closer to the railroads in Downtown Omaha. Today, this building is the college's library.
Guardhouse
The current guardhouse was built in 1883. It sits at Bourke Gate. It has been made larger several times. In 1982, it was named an Omaha Landmark.
Fort Omaha Today
After World War II, the U.S. Navy took control of Fort Omaha. Today, some areas are used for training by the Marine Corps Reserve. They also store and fix Navy vehicles there. The rest of Fort Omaha is home to a campus of the Metropolitan Community College. The Douglas County Historical Society is also there, at the General Crook House. More than 25 buildings at Fort Omaha are part of its historic district status. This status was given by the National Park Service.
