Fort Leavenworth in Leavenworth County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Fort Leavenworth
Established in 1827, Fort Leavenworth is the oldest army post in continuous operation west of the Missouri River. Serving as the army's chief base of operations on the Central Plains, the fort furnished troops and supplies for military operations as far away as the Pacific Coast. Troops stationed at the fort were given the task of maintaining peace on the frontier and protecting trade on the newly established Santa Fe Trail. With the establishment of the Oregon-California Trail in the 1840s, travelers on that trail also received protection.
In 1834 the fort became headquarters for the U. S. Dragoons, the army's first permanent mounted regiment. With the onset of war with Mexico in 1846, the Army of the West organized at the fort for its epic journey to California and northern Mexico. When Kansas achieved territorial status in 1854, the first office of the territorial governor was at the fort. In 1881 General William T. Sherman established a school that evolved into the Command and General Staff College, the highest ranked school in the army educational system. One notable student, Major Dwight D. Eisenhower, graduated in 1926 with highest honors in his class.
Has been designated a
Registered National
Historic Landmark
under the provisions of the
Historic Sites Act of August 21, 1935
This site possesses exceptional value
in commemorating and illustrating
the history of the United States
U.S. Department of the Interior
National Park Service
1962
Erected by Kansas State Historical Society & Kansas Department of Transportation. (Marker Number 4(A).)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil • Wars, US Indian. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #34 Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Kansas Historical Society, and the National Historic Landmarks series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1827.
Location. 39° 20.951′ N, 94° 54.879′ W. Marker is in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in Leavenworth County. Marker is on Reynolds Avenue east of Gibbons Avenue, on the left when traveling east. Marker is at the Frontier Army Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Reynolds Avenue, Fort Leavenworth KS 66027, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Fort Sully (within shouting distance of this marker); Major General James Franklin Bell (approx. 0.2 miles away); Sherman Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away); French Aid During American Revolution (approx. 0.2 miles away); Site of Former Burial Ground (approx. 0.2 miles away); 555th Parachute Infantry Company (approx. 0.3 miles away); General Roscoe Robinson Jr. (approx. 0.3 miles away); General Colin L. Powell (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Leavenworth.
Also see . . .
1. Fort Leavenworth. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on February 9, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. US Army Command and General Staff College. US Army website entry (Submitted on February 9, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 16, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 9, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 663 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 9, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.