When was fort kearny built

This new fort was first called Fort Childs, but then took the name of the original fort in Nebraska City. The new post, established along the Oregon-California Trail , was soon protecting thousands of westward-bound pioneers who camped in the wide Platte Valley around the fort. Reports estimate that on some days over five hundred ox teams passed the fort. The post also served as an ammunition depot and protected peaceable Indians in the area from hostiles and outlaws. Fort Kearny rapidly developed into one of the most important stops on the Oregon-California Trail and on June 2, , Lieutenant Woodbury wrote:.

There are four men and ten draft animals to each wagon-very nearly. Many, not included above, have traveled on the other side of the Platte and many more are still to come on this side. The post is at present very poorly prepared to give to the emigrants the assistance which very many have required even at this point so near the beginning of their journey. In , stagecoach services began to run between Independence, Missouri and Salt Lake City, Utah , which provided Fort Kearny with regular once a month mail and passenger service.

For the first time, the emigrants could trust that their letters would arrive at their intended destinations. Later, the post would also serve as an important stop on the Pony Express route in One traveler, a member of the Utah Expedition, wrote a detailed description of the frontier post when he passed through in It stands on a slight elevation a few miles from the Platte River.

This photo was taken by a photographer accompanying the Utah Expedition in They took 2 of only 3 known photographs of these buildings.

To the left is the front of the commissioned officer's quarters facing north, and to the right of the flagstaff is the hospital; to the far right, the commanding officer's quarters. The logs in the foreground were evidently hauled from the island in the Platte. An drawing of Fort Kearny by Lenore Clark. Fort Kearny Entrance Sign. Artist unknown. Plan of Fort Kearny, with park boundary. Henry B. Carrington rendering of Platte River islands near Fort Kearny, A plan of Fort Kearny There all the feeder lines from the starting points converged.

Fort Kearny's most important function was giving aid to travelers. Key to the blockhouse of the first Fort Kearny, in Nebraska City. Tags Otoe. The fort was named after Colonel Stephen Watts Kearny.

Established in , Fort Kearny offered protection to thousands of pioneers, Pony Express riders, and prospectors traveling west on the Oregon Trail.

According to an War Department report, over 30, people bound for California, Oregon, and Utah passed through Fort Kearny during an month period following the Gold Rush of Originally built near Nebraska City, the fort was later relocated to its present site to increase military strength in Central Nebraska. Fort Kearny was the first U.

Army Post on the Oregon Trail and was never attacked by Indians. Observant readers are quick to point out the spelling differences between the fort and the town. Someone in the post office simply made a spelling error and by the time it was realized, no one felt a change was necessary.