Nebraska Forts

American Forts: West

NEBRASKA

Last Update: 01/JULY/2007

Compiled by Phil and Pete Payette - Š2007 American Forts Network

Armas de Francia ? or ?
(unknown dates), near Jamison
A possible French or British (Canadian) post of some kind is shown on a 1795 Spanish map, located somewhere along the north bank of the Keya Paha River. Whether it was Spanish speculation or paranoia, no such post is known to have existed by either nation.

Camp Keya Paha
(1879), Naper
A temporary Army post located on the north bank of the Keya Paha River south of town. It was an outpost of Fort Randall in South Dakota.

Ponca Indian Fort (1)
(unknown dates), near Verdel
A Ponca Indian fortified earth-lodge village described by Spanish explorers, located on the south-side of the mouth of Ponca Creek, 1.25 miles from the bank of the Missouri River, about six miles upstream from the mouth of the Niobrara River. Also known as Nánza.

Columbia Fur Co. Post (3)
(1820's), near Niobrara
An unnamed Columbia Fur Co. post was located in the area.

Sarpy's Post (2)
(1820's ?, 1830's ?, or 1840's ?), Niobrara
A fur trade post located near the Santee Sioux Indian Reservation, probably under one of the Sarpy brothers (John or Peter). Possibly also a reference to Fort Mitchell (1) below. This may have been American Fur Co. Ponca Post (2) (1827 - 1833).

Fort (David) Mitchell (1)
(1833 - 1837), Niobrara
An American Fur Company trading post originally called Fort (Lucien) Fontenelle.

Columbia Fur Co. Post (2)
(1820's), near St. Helena
An unnamed Columbia Fur Co. post was located in the area.

Cantonment Canfield
(1855), near
A temporary Army post at the mouth of Ponca Creek. Located nearby was Camp Poncas Island (1856).

Fort Ponca (3)
(1865 - 1866), near
A Federal post at the Ponca Indian Agency.

Fort Charles
(1795 - 1797), near Homer
A fortified trading post built by James (Jacques) Mackay of the Missouri Company (a former North West Co. trader who switched his allegiance to Spain), located on Omaha Creek about five miles southeast of the Omaha "Big Village" (Tonwontonga) somewhere near Blyburg Lake, about six miles south of Omadi on the Missouri River. Lewis and Clark in 1804 referred to this post as Mr. Mackay's Trading House. Also called Fort Carlos.
The Spanish authorities in St. Louis in 1794 had believed that British (Canadian) traders had built or were planning to build a trading post somewhere near here. There never was such a post.

Pierre Cruzatte's Trading Post
(1799 ?), near Blair
A trading post built at the mouth of Mill Creek. Lasted two seasons, and was abandoned by 1803. In 1804 Lewis and Clark reported seeing the remains of a small unnamed trading fort in the area.

Fort Atkinson (State Historical Park)
(1819 - 1827), Fort Calhoun
Lewis' and Clark's Camp Council Bluff (1803) was once located here. Originally called Camp Missouri then Cantonment Missouri, located two miles upriver along the riverbank. It was moved to a nearby bluff in 1820 and renamed Cantonment Council Bluffs. It was renamed again in 1821. It was the first Army post west of the Missouri River. The fort was reconstructed in 1961. Camp Recovery (1820) was located three miles south to treat sick soldiers from unsanitary conditions at Cantonment Missouri. Another website
(NOTE: The town of Fort Calhoun, founded in 1854, was originally called Fort Atkinson.)

John P. Cabanné's Post
(1822 - 1834), near Omaha
An American Fur Company trading post located between Omaha and Fort Calhoun. Moved to Bellevue in 1834.

Fort Lisa
(1809, 1812 - 1820), Omaha
A St. Louis Missouri Fur Company trading post under Manuel Lisa. It was rebuilt in 1812 and became the main post of the company. The site is located just north of Hummel Park on the Missouri River. Replaced by Pilcher's Post. Lisa may have had an earlier post here in 1807.

Columbia Fur Co. Post (1)
(1820's), Omaha
An unnamed Columbia Fur Co. post was located in the area.

Post of Omaha
(1862 - 1866), Omaha
Headquarters of the Military District of Nebraska, which originally included the territorial capitol building (at 20th Street and Capitol Ave.) and the Herndon Hotel (at Ninth and Farnum Streets). Two overflow campsites called Camp Mitchell (1) and Camp McKean (1) (both 1863) were located on the then western edge of town. The post was replaced by Fort Omaha.
Nearby along North Omaha Creek was Camp at the Military Bridge (1864).

Fort Omaha
(Metropolitan Community College)
(1868 - 1896/1947), Omaha
Originally known as Camp Sherman or Sherman Barracks until 1869, then Omaha Barracks until 1878. Replaced by Fort Crook, however the post was still used sporadically until 1947. During the Spanish-American War the post was used as a muster post for various state troops. One muster-out camp was known as Camp Meiklejohn. During World War I the Army had its Balloon School here. Several original buildings still remain, including the General Crook House Museum (1879), located at 30th and Fort Streets on the Fort Omaha campus of Metropolitan Community College, as well as the Quartermaster's office and commissary (1870's), Guardhouse (1884), ordnance magazine (1883), and mule stables. Camp Augur (unknown date) was an adjunct training facility. Camp Vincent (1872) was located west of town along the railroad.
(additional info provided courtesy of Jeff Barnes)

Joshua Pilcher's Post
(1823 - 1831), Bellevue
A St. Louis Missouri Fur Co. trading post that replaced Fort Lisa. Sold in 1831.

Fort Bellevue
(1834 - 1862), Bellevue
An American Fur Co. trading post, also known as Peter A. Sarpy's Post (1). This post moved from Cabanné's Post.
This was the state's first permanent white settlement.

Fort Crook
(Offutt Air Force Base)
(1891 - 1948/present), Bellevue
Replaced Fort Omaha. In 1924 Offutt Field was created and the post was transferred to the Air Force in 1948. Officers' quarters, barracks, and other buildings from the Army post still remain. Home of the Strategic Air Command Museum.

Crooks and McClellan Post
(1810 - 1811), Bellevue
An independent trading post on the Missouri River near Papillion Creek. It was abandoned when Ramsay Crooks and Robert McClellan both joined the Pacific Fur Company.

Post of the Otos
(1795 - 1797), near La Platte
A wintering trading house built by James (Jacques) Mackay of the Missouri Company, located on the west bank of the Missouri River about one-half league above the mouth of the Platte River. In 1796 it was possibly relocated by Francisco Derouin (Don Frederico Autman) to a new location about two leagues below the mouth of the Platte River (near Plattsmouth).
The Spanish authorities in St. Louis in 1794 had believed that British (Canadian) traders had built or were planning to build a blockhouse on the Platte River somewhere near the Oto villages. There never was such a post.

Fort Kearny (1)
(1846 - 1848), Nebraska City
Originally named Camp Kearny. This was the first Army fort to protect the Oregon Trail, but it was abandoned because this site was too far from the trail. A modern reconstruction of the blockhouse once stood on the original site at Table Creek, but was torn down in the 1990's and the state marker removed. An historical plaque of the fort still remains on the back of an Oregon Trail marker located about 50 feet from the original fort site, at 6th and Central.
(additional info provided courtesy of Jeff Barnes)

St. Deroin Fort
(Indian Cave State Park)
(1854 - unknown), near Shubert
A restored 1854 trading post. Lewis and Clark camped at this location in 1804. They reported seeing a small unnamed trading fort in the area at that time. There was another post built in the 1840's. St. Deroin village was laid out in 1853.

Camp at Pawnee Indian Agency
(unknown dates), near Pawnee City ?
A Federal post. Undetermined exact location.

Liberty Pole Camp
(1847), Fremont
A staging camp established by Mormon pioneers at the start of their westward movement.

Post at Columbus
(1863 - 1866), Columbus
A large stockade erected by settlers and occupied by the Army the following year. "Galvanized Yankees" were stationed here after the Civil War to safeguard the Loup River bridge.

Pawnee Post
(1829- 1830), near Columbus
A temporary American Fur Co. trading post located at the Pawnee Indian villages on the Loup River.

Camp Alvin Saunders
(1898), Lincoln
A Spanish-American War muster camp located at the Lancaster County Fairgrounds, now the State Fairgrounds. The post only operated for two weeks.

Fort Kiowa
(1860 ?), Hebron
Located along the Oregon Trail. It was also used as a Pony Express Station. It no longer exists.
Also of interest located nearby, east of Fairbury, is Rock Creek Station State Historical Park, a former Pony Express Station.

Little Blue (River) Station Post
(1864 - 1866), near Oak
A state militia stockaded guardpost located on the north-side of the Little Blue River, three miles northwest of town at Oak Grove.

Pawnee Ranch Post
(1864 - 1866), near Deweese
A palisaded Army post with four bastions, located at Pawnee Creek and Little Blue River, seven miles southwest of Fairfield.

Fort Independence
(Stolley Recreation Area)
(1864 - 1865), Grand Island
A 24-foot square log and sod settlers' fort built by William Stolley. Some of the timber is said to have later been used to construct some of the structures in the park. Underneath the fort was an 88-foot long stable.

Junction Station Post
(1864 - 1866), Grand Island
A stockaded complex of Officers' quarters, barracks, and stables, located near the Junction Stage Station.

Fort Hartsuff (State Historical Park)
(1874 - 1881), Elyria
A restored and reconstructed infantry post. Originally named Post on the North Fork of the Loup River. The fort was built to protect settlers and guard the Pawnee Indian Reservation. It was abandoned after Fort Niobrara was established. Located about two miles north was Camp Ruggles (1874).

Elm Creek Fort
(Harold Warp Pioneer Village)
(1869), Minden
A settlers' stockade. Structure moved from nearby Webster County. Admission fee.

Fort Kearny (2) (State Historical Park)
(1848 - 1871), near Kearney
A restored log stockade, 1864 blacksmith and carpenter shop, powder magazine, and museum, located eight miles southeast of town. Originally named Post at Grand Island, then Fort Childs until 1849. Fort Gillette and Fort Mitchell (2) are two supporting earthwork fortifications from the 1860's. It provided protection for Union Pacific Railroad workers and the mail routes. The fort was built of adobe, with two blockhouses made of heavy timber. Another website
(NOTE: the town and county names are actually misspelled.)

Plum Creek Post
(1864 - 1866), near Bertrand
A subpost of Fort McPherson, it was a 325-foot square stockade enclosing six buildings. Located south of the Platte River at Plum Creek, between Plum Creek Ranch and the Plum Creek stage station.

Camp Red Willow
(1872), near McCook
A temporary Federal camp one mile from Red Willow Creek, east of town.

(Patrick) Mullaly's Ranch Post
(1864 - 1866), near Gothenburg
A former Pony Express station known variously as the Cold Water Ranch Station, Midway Station, or Heavy Timber Station, that was stockaded with Officers' quarters, barracks and stables, for use by Nebraska Cavalry troops during Indian troubles. The station was attacked and destroyed by Indians in 1866. However, an original period structure still exists today on the privately owned "Lower 96 Ranch", three miles south of town, which bears a plaque by the Oregon Trail Memorial Association.

Gilman's Station Post
(1864 - 1866), near Brady
A 150-foot square stockade with barracks. Located east of town near the county line.

Fort McPherson
(1863 - 1880), near Maxwell
Located at a fording point along the Oregon Trail two miles west of Cottonwood Springs. Originally named Cantonment McKean (2) in 1863. Then it was called Post at Cottonwood Springs (or Fort Cottonwood Springs) and later Fort Cottonwood from 1864 until 1866. The post cemetery was declared a National Cemetery in 1873.

North Platte Station Post
(1867 - 1881), North Platte
Also called Camp Sergeant (or Sargent). During its first year the post was moved from the north-side of the railroad to the south-side. Located on West Front Street.

Fort Heath
(unknown), Lincoln County
Earthworks still exist. Undetermined location.
(thanks to John Ludwickson for providing info)

O'Fallon's Bluffs Post
(1864 - 1866), Sutherland
A 125-foot square stockade built by the Iowa state miltia.

Alkali Station
(1864 - 1866), near Paxton
A former Pony Express station that was converted into an Army post to guard the Oregon Trail. It was a quadrangular stockade with two blockhouses at opposite corners, with Officers' quarters, barracks, storehouses, and stables.

Beauvais Station Post
(1864 - 1866), Brule
A state militia 325-by-125-foot stockade enclosing Officers' quarters, barracks, storehouse, and stables.

Fort Grattan
(Ash Hollow State Historical Park)
(1855), near Lewellen
A 100-foot two-bastioned sod earthwork fort that was abandoned by the Dragoons after only three weeks. Located at the entrance to the Ash Hollow Canyon. Site of the Battle of Ash Hollow (also called Battle of Blue Water), before the fort was built.

Fort Sidney
(1867 - 1894), Sidney
First known as Sidney Barracks until 1878. It was a subpost of Fort Sedgwick in Colorado. The post moved to a new site in 1869 and became an independent garrison in 1870. It was built to protect Union Pacific railroad workers. Several of the original buildings remain in various locations in town.

Fort Clarke
(1876 - unknown), Bridgeport
An Army blockhouse built to guard the North Platte River bridge. A prairie fire destroyed the structure in 1910.

Robideaux Pass Trading Post
(1849), near Gering
A reconstructed short-lived American Fur Co. trading post on the Oregon Trail located at Carter Canyon, eight miles west of town. Operated by Andrew Drips. Relocated to a site eight miles south of Scotts Bluff from 1850 to 1852, then relocated again closer to the Oregon Trail, lasting a few more years.

Fort Mitchell (3)
(1864 - 1867), Mitchell
Located near the Oregon Trail. A 100-by-180-foot loopholed adobe building with a palisaded corral and parade ground, it was originally called Camp Shuman. Redesignated Camp Mitchell (2) soon after, it never officially became a "fort". It was a subpost of Fort Laramie in Wyoming. A Pony Express station was here in 1860. Site was excavated in 2004 as part of a state road survey.

Fort Robinson (State Park)
(1874 - 1948), Crawford
Originally named Post (Camp) at Red Cloud Indian Agency and Camp Robinson until 1878. Chief Crazy Horse was killed here in 1877 while resisting arrest. The Indian Agency headquarters relocated to Pine Ridge, SD in 1878. In 1919 the post became a Quartermaster's remount station, and guarded a nearby POW camp from 1942 to 1945. Also during World War II it was a training post for K-9 dog units. From 1948 to 1971 it was a USDA Agricultural Research Station. There are 49 buildings remaining from the 1875 - 1912 period.
Another website from Western Nebraska Adventure

Fort Montrose
(1891), Montrose
A temporary defense built by settlers, located two miles below the state line, 20 miles north of Crawford. It consisted of a circular trench with an underground chamber.

Fort Beaver Valley
(1891), near Chadron
A temporary defense built by settlers. Located 15 miles northwest of town.

James Bordeaux' Post
(The Museum of the Fur Trade)
(1833 or 1841 - 1877 ?), Bordeaux
A reconstructed wintering house and trading post used off and on, originally a subpost of Fort John in Wyoming. Located three miles east of Chadron on Bordeaux Creek. Admission fee.

Camp Sheridan
(1874 - 1881), near Chadron
Located northeast of town and southwest of Whiteclay in Sheridan County. It was originally Post at Spotted Tail Indian Agency near Adaton, then moved to the west fork of Beaver Creek, 12 miles upstream from the White River. Also known as Fort Sheridan.

Fort Mirage Flats
(1891), near Hay Springs
A temporary sod-built "blockhouse" built by settlers, located southeast of town near Walgren Lake.

Camps of the Pine Ridge Campaign
(1890 - 1891), various locations
The Nebraska National Guard under Brig. General L.W. Colby established several fortified camps during the Pine Ridge campaign of 1890 - 1891, surrounding the Pine Ridge Indian Agency in the South Dakota Badlands after the Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890. Some earthworks still remain on private property.
Camp at Chadron
Camp at Madden's Bridge at the crossing of White River near the mouth of Big Bordeaux Creek.
Camp at Stryker's Ranch 14 miles northeast of Chadron near Beaver Creek, three miles from site of Camp (Fort) Sheridan.
Camp at Swallow's Ranch on Beaver Creek about two miles from Adaton, the former site of the Spotted Tail Indian Agency.
Camp at Hay Springs
Camp near Cheney's Ranch ten miles north of Hay Springs on Beaver Creek.
Camp at Roger's Mill about 16 miles northwest of Rushville at the headwaters of a branch of White Clay Creek.
Camp at Rushville
Camp at Jareho's Ranch about 12 miles north of Rushville on the road to the Pine Ridge Indian Agency.
Camp at Morey's Ranch about 16 miles northeast of Rushville at the forks of Larabee Creek.
Camp at Gordon
Camp at Callin's Ranch at the headwaters of Antelope Creek.
Camp at Albany at the courthouse.

(thanks to John Ludwickson for providing info)

Fort Niobrara
(Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge)
(1880 - 1906), near Valentine
A Federal post near the mouth of Minnechaduze Creek, the site is at the refuge headquarters building. The history of the post is described at the Cherry County Historical Society Museum.

The Oregon Trail in Jefferson County, Nebraska

NEED MORE INFO: Fort Grove (date ?) (location ?) possibly a trading post or civilian defense.
Towns: Palisade in Hitchcock County