Fort Yamhill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Yamhill |
|
|---|---|
| Polk County, Oregon, U.S. | |
The original blockhouse from Fort Yamhill located in Courthouse Square Park in Dayton, Oregon.
|
|
| Coordinates | 45°04′08″N 123°34′12″W / 45.068952°N 123.570056°W |
| Type | Military base |
| Site information | |
| Owner | United States |
| Controlled by | United States Army |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1856 |
| In use | 1856-1866 |
| Materials | wood |
| Demolished | 1866 |
| Garrison information | |
| Past commanders |
Philip Sheridan |
|
Fort Yamhill Site
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Nearest city | Willamina, Oregon |
| Area | 54.4 acres (22.0 ha) |
| Built | 1856 |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000681 |
| Added to NRHP | July 27, 1971 |
Fort Yamhill was an American military fort. It was built in 1856 in the Oregon Territory. The fort was an active post until 1866. The United States Army used it to be near the Grand Ronde Agency Coastal Reservation. Several officers who served here later became generals in the American Civil War.
Contents
Building Fort Yamhill: A Look at Its Construction
Fort Yamhill was built in Polk County, Oregon. It had many wooden buildings. These included a blockhouse, barracks, and officers' quarters. There was also a hospital, shops, and a barn. The fort cost about $36,053 to build.
What Was the Blockhouse For?
The wooden blockhouse was a strong building. It was made to protect settlers. They could go there if Native Americans attacked. After the fort closed, the blockhouse was moved. It became a jail in the Valley Junction area. Later, it moved about 30 miles east to Dayton.
Who Were the First Soldiers at Fort Yamhill?
The first troops at Fort Yamhill arrived in 1856. They were led by William Babcock Hazen. This group had 76 men and three officers. By 1858, the number of soldiers was smaller. There were two officers and 33 enlisted men.
Fort Yamhill's Lasting Impact and Legacy
Fort Yamhill has an important history. Its blockhouse was moved to a park in Dayton in 1911. This was done to honor Joel Palmer, a founder of Dayton.
Where is the Fort Yamhill Site Today?
The actual site of the fort is near Willamina. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. The exact address is kept private. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department manages the area. They work with Polk County and the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde.
What Can You See at the Fort Site?
Today, most of the original buildings are gone. Only one Officer's Quarters building has been moved back to the site. The parks department plans to rebuild some of the fort's structures. This includes a new blockhouse.
Learning About the Past: Archaeology at Fort Yamhill
In 2005 and 2013, students from Oregon State University came to Fort Yamhill. They were part of a historical archaeology field school. The students worked to find the foundations of the fort's old buildings. This helps us learn more about what the fort was like.
