Fort Leavenworth

Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Notable Events:

  • Established (1827)
  • Provisional Offices of Territorial Governor Andrew H. Reeder (1854)
  • Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery Established (July 17, 1862) 

Fort Leavenworth was originally established in 1827 to provide protection along the Santa Fe Trail. During the Civil War, Fort Leavenworth served as a training station for Kansas volunteers, and in 1864 the fort's garrison prepared for a possible attack by Major General Sterling Price on his Missouri Expedition. Price, however, was defeated at the Battle of Westport, and Fort Leavenworth remained one of the few Western border sites never to suffer an attack. It is perhaps best remembered for its role in supporting the post-Civil War Indian Wars; for its modern military education at the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command and United States Army Combined Arms Center; and for its military correctional facilities and maximum security prison. At an age of more than 180 years, Fort Leavenworth is the oldest post west of Washington, D.C. that remains in continuous operation. 

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