Fort Simcoe
Encyclopedia
Fort Simcoe was a United States Army
fort erected in south-central Washington Territory
to house troops sent to keep watch over local Indian
tribes. The site and remaining buildings are located eight miles (13 km) west of modern White Swan, Washington
, in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains.
tribes of Indigenous peoples of the Americas
from areas all around the present state of Washington. Prior to 1850, the site was used as a trade center and campground for the various bands of Native Americans that now make up the Yakama Indian Nation
.
The fort was built in the late 1850s by future Civil War
general Robert S. Garnett
and was in use for three years. In 1869, the military turned the fort over to the Yakama Indian Agency. The fort was then converted to an Indian school and the Yakama Indian Agency managed its affairs from the site until the early 1900s. The park was established in 1956.
. The park is primarily an interpretive effort, telling the story of mid-19th century army life and providing insights into the lifeways of local Native American culture. Five original buildings are still standing at the fort: the commander's house, three captain's houses and a blockhouse. Various other buildings have been recreated to appear original. Houses are filled with period furnishings. Due to its unique historic significance, the park was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in June, 1974.
The interpretive center, the original commander's house and two officer's buildings with period furnishings open to the public from April through September on Wednesday through Sunday. The original blockhouse and other recreated fort buildings are not open to the public. Special re-enactments and living history events are held during the year, as well as other special events.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
fort erected in south-central Washington Territory
Washington Territory
The Territory of Washington was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 8, 1853, until November 11, 1889, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Washington....
to house troops sent to keep watch over local Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
tribes. The site and remaining buildings are located eight miles (13 km) west of modern White Swan, Washington
White Swan, Washington
White Swan is a census-designated place in Yakima County, Washington, United States. The population was 793 at the 2010 census. This was a 73.9% drop from the 2000 census.-History:...
, in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains.
History
The site was a meeting, trade and culture center for prehistoricPaleo Indians
Paleo-Indians or Paleoamericans is a classification term given to the first peoples who entered, and subsequently inhabited, the American continent during the final glacial episodes of the late Pleistocene period...
tribes of Indigenous peoples of the Americas
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
from areas all around the present state of Washington. Prior to 1850, the site was used as a trade center and campground for the various bands of Native Americans that now make up the Yakama Indian Nation
Yakama
The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, or simply Yakama Nation , is a Native American group with nearly 10,000 enrolled members, living in Washington. Their reservation, along the Yakima River, covers an area of approximately 1.2 million acres...
.
The fort was built in the late 1850s by future Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
general Robert S. Garnett
Robert S. Garnett
Robert Selden Garnett was a career military officer, serving in the United States Army until the American Civil War, when he became a Confederate States Army brigadier general. He was the first general officer killed in the Civil War.-Early life and career:Garnett was born at the family plantation...
and was in use for three years. In 1869, the military turned the fort over to the Yakama Indian Agency. The fort was then converted to an Indian school and the Yakama Indian Agency managed its affairs from the site until the early 1900s. The park was established in 1956.
Park and museum
Fort Simcoe State Park is located in an old oak grove watered by natural springs. It is a 200 acre (0.809372 km²), day-use heritage park on the Yakama Indian ReservationYakama Indian Reservation
The Yakama Indian Reservation is a United States Indian reservation located on the east side of the Cascade Mountains in southern Washington. It is the homeland of the Yakama tribe of Native Americans....
. The park is primarily an interpretive effort, telling the story of mid-19th century army life and providing insights into the lifeways of local Native American culture. Five original buildings are still standing at the fort: the commander's house, three captain's houses and a blockhouse. Various other buildings have been recreated to appear original. Houses are filled with period furnishings. Due to its unique historic significance, the park was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in June, 1974.
The interpretive center, the original commander's house and two officer's buildings with period furnishings open to the public from April through September on Wednesday through Sunday. The original blockhouse and other recreated fort buildings are not open to the public. Special re-enactments and living history events are held during the year, as well as other special events.
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