Talent in Jackson County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

Fort Wagner

1854

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, March 29, 2024

1. Fort Wagner Marker

Inscription. This is the site of Fort Wagner, a primitive structure built in 1853-1854 by Captain Alden of Yreka, California. Jacob Wagner, Talent's first settler of European descent, was the property owner.

Erected 1995 by Lions Club.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 42° 14.558′ N, 122° 47.073′ W. Marker is in Talent, Oregon, in Jackson County. It is on Talent Avenue east of Holiday Lane, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 226 Talent Ave, Talent OR 97540, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Oregon.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast,

in the Pacific Northwest,

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Cascade Range,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

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are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: World War II Veterans Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Applegate Trail - Bear Creek (approx. half a mile away); Applegate Trail Pioneers (approx. 2½ miles away); Camp Baker (approx. 3.1 miles away); Applegate Trail - Ashland Creek (approx. 4.6 miles away); Ashland Creek (approx. 4.7 miles away); Wild (approx. 4.7 miles away); Ashland Lithia Water (approx. 4.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Talent.

More about this marker. The following text is taken from the Southern Oregon Historical Society's website to highlight the history of Fort Wagner in more detail:

The Euro-American history of Talent is researched by historian George Kramer in a document available on line (Historic Context Statement for the city of Talent, Oregon, June, 1994). According to Kramer (page 11 of the online document), Jacob Wagner was the first Euro-American to settle in the Talent area, in 1852. In 1853 Wagner built a fort on his property with help from a Captain Alden and his men from Yreka. The stockade was planned to serve as protection during Native American uprisings

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, March 29, 2024

2. Fort Wagner Marker

that were occurring during that time period.

The need for the fort did not last long, and it was soon dismantled. Evidence indicates it was located behind what is now 226 Talent Avenue.

According to an article by Jan Wright (Talent News and Review, March, 2012) the plaque was dedicated in 1995 by the Lions Club, which replaced it after the original was stolen in about 2002.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, March 29, 2024

3. Fort Wagner Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on April 3, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 2, 2024, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 337 times since then and 69 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 2, 2024, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.