Fort Logan (Colorado)

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Fort Logan was a military post south of downtown Denver, Colorado that operated from 1887 to 1946.[1] Initially named Fort Sheridan, in 1889 the fort was named after Union General John A. Logan, commander of US Volunteer forces during the American Civil War.[2][3]

History[]

Denver citizens were concerned about their safety due to the influx of settlers from the east. They petitioned the United States Army to build a post. Colorado Senator Henry M. Teller introduced a bill in Congress 1886 for construction of a post, which was signed on February 1887.[4] The fort, originally known as "the camp near the city of Denver" first housed members of the 18th Infantry from Leavenworth, Kansas and Fort Hays. They established a temporary barracks and guardhouse while permanent buildings were constructed.[4] Initially, the post responded to local civil and labor disputes.[5]

A three-acre cemetery was established in 1889. The first recorded burial was for Mable Peterkin, daughter of Private Peterkin, who died on June 28, 1889.[4] It was named Fort Logan in August 1889 for General John A. Logan, who led Union Army volunteer forces during the Civil War. He was the head of the post-war organization Grand Army of the Republic and issued General Orders No. 11, establishing May 30 as "Decoration Day", now called Memorial Day, to honor the Civil War dead.[4] In 1889, the town of Fort Logan was established that included the base and surrounding land.[6]

During the Spanish–American War, it mobilized troops with Camp Adams, a temporary organization.[5] In 1908, 340 acres of land were added to the fort, and the following year it was reduced to a recruiting post.[4] It was the only major military post in Colorado during World War I.[5] It continued to operate as a recruiting post until 1922 when the 38th Infantry was garrisoned at the post. The fort was closed in May 1946.[4]

Panoramic image of Fort Logan, 1908, William Bevington

Aftermath[]

When the post was no longer required, some of the land was used for creation of the Fort Logan National Cemetery in 1949. A Queen Anne style officer's quarters building was made into a museum. Most of the land was donated in 1960 to the state of Colorado was used for the Fort Logan Mental Health Center.[2][5]

References[]

  1. ^ Jolie Anderson Gallagher (April 2, 2013). Colorado Forts: Historic Outposts on the Wild Frontier. Arcadia Publishing Incorporated. p. PT11. ISBN 978-1-61423-903-1.
  2. ^ a b Thomas Jacob Noel (2006). Guide to Colorado Historic Places: Sites Supported by the Colorado Historical Society's State Historical Fund. Big Earth Publishing. p. 151. ISBN 978-1-56579-493-1.
  3. ^ Jack Stokes Ballard (2011). Fort Logan. Arcadia Publishing. pp. 7–8. ISBN 978-0-7385-7582-7.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Fort Logan National Cemetery - Historical Information". National Cemetery Administration, Veterans Administration. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d Thomas J. Noel (May 29, 2015). Colorado: A Historical Atlas. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 79. ISBN 978-0-8061-5353-7.
  6. ^ Thomas J. Noel (May 29, 2015). Colorado: A Historical Atlas. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 211. ISBN 978-0-8061-5353-7.

Further reading[]

  • Jack Stokes Ballard (2011). Fort Logan. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-7582-7.

Coordinates: 39°38′38″N 105°02′38″W / 39.644°N 105.044°W / 39.644; -105.044


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