Fort Robinson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Robinson State Park |
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Post headquarters
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| Location | Dawes & Sioux counties, Nebraska, United States |
| Nearest city | Crawford, Nebraska |
| Area | 22,332.72 acres (9,037.73 ha) |
| Elevation | 3,806 ft (1,160 m) |
| Established | 1956 |
| Administered by | Nebraska Game and Parks Commission & Nebraska State Historical Society |
| Designation | Nebraska state park |
| Website | Fort Robinson State Park |
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Fort Robinson and Red Cloud Agency
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Site of the second Red Cloud Agency
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| Location | Dawes and Sioux counties, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Nearest city | Crawford, Nebraska |
| Area | 2,500 acres (10.1 km2) |
| Built | 1873 |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000442 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHLD | December 19, 1960 |
Fort Robinson is a historic former U.S. Army fort. Today, it is a big part of Fort Robinson State Park. This park is a huge 22,000-acre (8,900 ha) area for fun and history. You can find it about 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Crawford. It's in the beautiful Pine Ridge area of northwest Nebraska.
The fort was named a National Historic Landmark in 1960. It's part of a larger historic area called the Fort Robinson and Red Cloud Agency historic district. This district includes the fort and the place where the second Red Cloud Agency once stood. That site is about 1.5 mi (2.4 km) east of the fort. The district also has the Camp Canby site and the Percy Homestead from 1886. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission manages the park. Some buildings are run by the Nebraska State Historical Society and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
History of Fort Robinson
Early Days and the Red Cloud Agency
In August 1873, the Red Cloud Agency moved to the White River. This was near where Crawford, Nebraska is today. The U.S. Government then decided to build a military camp there. This happened in March of the next year. About 13,000 Lakota people had been moved to this area.
The camp was first called Camp Robinson. It was named after Lt. Levi H. Robinson. He had been killed in a conflict near Fort Laramie in February. In May, the military camp moved 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west to its current spot. In January 1878, the camp was officially renamed Fort Robinson.
Fort Robinson and the Sioux Wars
Fort Robinson was a key base for the U.S. military. It played a big role in the Sioux Wars from 1876 to 1890. The Battle of Warbonnet Creek happened nearby in July 1876. The famous war chief Crazy Horse surrendered at the fort with 1,100 followers on May 6, 1877. Sadly, on September 5 of that year, he was killed there while resisting being held. A special plaque marks the spot where he died.
The Northern Cheyenne Outbreak
In January 1879, Chief Morning Star (also known as Dull Knife) led the Northern Cheyenne in an escape from the Agency. The Cheyenne wanted to return to their homeland. They felt conditions in Indian Territory were too harsh to survive. The army had been holding them and denying them food, water, and warmth during a very cold winter. This was an attempt to force them to obey.
U.S. soldiers chased the escapees. Many men, women, and children were killed in what is known as the Fort Robinson massacre. The U.S. Supreme Court later called it a "shocking story" and "one of the most melancholy of Indian tragedies." This sad event marked the end of the Sioux and Cheyenne wars in Nebraska.
Growth and Change at the Fort
In 1885, the 9th Cavalry Regiment arrived at Fort Robinson. Native Americans called these soldiers "Buffalo Soldiers." Over the next few years, the fort grew larger. Military training became a very important activity. From 1889 to 1890, Second Lieutenant Charles Young served here. He was a black pioneer officer who graduated from West Point. He became the highest-ranking black person in the U.S. Army during his career.
From 1887 to 1898, Fort Robinson was the main headquarters for the regiment. A gymnasium and theater were built in 1904. These buildings provided fun and entertainment for the soldiers.
Fort Robinson in the 20th Century
After World War I ended in 1919, Fort Robinson became the world's largest quartermaster remount depot. This meant it was a huge center for breeding and training horses and mules for the military. The military also used its stallions to breed with local horses to make them stronger.
During World War II, the fort was a training center for K-9 corps dogs. It also held a German prisoner-of-war camp.
Closing the Fort and Becoming a Park
The U.S. Army decided to close Fort Robinson in 1947. The next year, the land went to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). They used it as a Beef Cattle Research Station. In the mid-1950s, some buildings were torn down. But then, people started working to save the fort as a historic site.
In 1955, History Nebraska (then called the Nebraska State Historical Society) began buying parts of the fort. They opened a museum there in 1956. The USDA stopped its work in 1971. The property was then given to the state of Nebraska.
Fort Robinson State Park Today
Fort Robinson State Park officially opened in 1956. This happened after the Nebraska Game, Forestation and Parks Commission bought some land in 1955. The park grew bigger when the federal government gave more land in 1964. It reached its full size in 1972 when Nebraska bought the nearby James Arthur Ranch.
What to See and Do at Fort Robinson State Park
Historic Buildings and Museums
The park has many historic buildings and sites. You can see the 1904 blacksmith shop and the 1908 veterinary hospital. There are also the 1887 officers' quarters and the 1875 guardhouse. The post cemetery is also there. A library offers materials about the fort's history for research. An old quartermaster's building is now used as a playhouse.
The Fort Robinson Museum is in the 1905 post headquarters building. It shows exhibits about the fort's history. This includes its role in guarding the Red Cloud Agency and housing World War II German prisoners. The Trailside Museum of Natural History is also at the park. It is run by the University of Nebraska State Museum and is in the old Army Theatre building.
Entertainment and Activities
Fort Robinson is also home to The Post Playhouse. This is a professional theater company. They put on live plays during the summer months. Actors, musicians, and directors come from all over the United States to perform here.
See also
- List of forts in the United States
