Downtown in Little Rock in Pulaski County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)

Fort Steele

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 10, 2018

1. Fort Steele Marker

Inscription. After occupying Little Rock Sept. 10, 1863, Union officials made plans to fortify the capital city. Construction began Nov. 9 on "a square redoubt which will command the city and all principal approaches". The resulting earthwork was named Fort Steele and it became the central point in a network of batteries and rifle pits built to defend Little Rock from Confederate attack. The fort, bristling with cannon and manned by veteran Union infantrymen, apparently did its job well, as Confederate forces never mounted an offensive to retake Little Rock.

Erected 2013 by Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, Civil War Round Table of Arkansas, Inc., Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council. (Marker Number 67.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 10, 1863.

Location. 34° 44.063′ N, 92° 16.808′ W. Marker is in Little Rock, Arkansas, in Pulaski County. It is in Downtown. It is on West 16th Street just east of South Gaines Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1521 S Gaines St, Little Rock AR 72202, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Quapaw Homeland.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: George W. Dickinson House (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); R. Neel-G.A.A. Deane House (about 600 feet away); Hemingway House (about 600 feet away); Cornish House (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Allison-Crawford House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Peay Cottage (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Dilts House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Arkansas in the Battle of New Market (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Little Rock.

Photographed by Ashley Sides, July 10, 2023

2. Fort Steele Marker

View of marker looking north on South Gaines Street. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 10, 2018

3. View of marker looking north on South Gaines Street.

Looking west on West 16th Street from marker. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 10, 2018

4. Looking west on West 16th Street from marker.

Location of the former Fort Steele. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 10, 2018

5. Location of the former Fort Steele.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 11, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 13, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,095 times since then and 33 times this year. Last updated on July 11, 2023, by Ashley Sides of Little Rock, Arkansas. Photos: 1. submitted on April 13, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 2. submitted on July 11, 2023, by Ashley Sides of Little Rock, Arkansas. 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 13, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.