Fort Logan

Fort Logan
Military Fort
Graves at Fort Logan National Cemetery on the site of the old Fort Logan burial grounds.
Named for: Union General John A. Logan
Country	United States
State	Colorado
Branch	United States Army
Nearest city	Denver
Founded	31 October 1887

Fort Logan was a military installation located eight miles southwest of Denver, Colorado. It was established in October 1887, when the first soldiers camped on the land, and lasted until 1946, when it was closed following the end of World War II. After the fort closed the site was used as a mental health center and part of the land was set aside for the Fort Logan National Cemetery.

Toward the end of the 19th century, conflicts between Native Americans and expanding American interests were becoming less common. The United States Army began looking to cut costs by closing isolated frontier forts and start using the railroads to transport troops and supplies. In 1886, prominent Denver citizens, looking to boost the local economy, raised money and donated land to bring an Army fort to the area. In October 1887 the first soldiers arrived from posts in Kansas and camped in 26 tents on the site that was at the time simply called the "Camp Near the City of Denver."

The camp was a treeless plateau located about eight miles southwest of the city. Unofficially the local citizens began to refer to it as "Fort Sheridan" after General Philip Sheridan who had selected the site. Sheridan preferred having his name associated with a fort north of Chicago and on 5 April 1889, had the camp designated "Fort Logan" after John Alexander Logan.

This new "urban-type" fort began construction quickly, though the final buildings were not completed until 1897. The fort had a parade ground and quarters, including the 1888 building for Field Officer's Quarters by Frank J. Godavent which still stands today and was restored in 2009. As infantry barracks were completed, the 7th Infantry left Fort Laramie, Wyoming, and made Fort Logan their permanent home. In 1894, the first cavalry units were posted to Fort Logan and remained until 1904.

Troops from Fort Logan participated in military actions right from the start. In December 1890, troops were deployed to South Dakota to intercept Sioux tribal bands. In 1894 troops were called in to quell civil strife resulting from Governor Davis Hanson Waite's siege of city hall. Later in the year they were deployed south during the Pullman Strike. Units from Fort Logan also participated in the 1898 Spanish–American War.