Fort Decatur (1)

Fort Decatur (1855-185?) - A two-story blockhouse garrisoned by Marines from the USS Decatur during the siege of Seattle in 1856 during the Yakima Indian War. Located in present-day Seattle, King County, Washington. Also known as Seattle Blockhouse. Fort Decatur during Battle of Seattle, painting, 26 Jan 1856 (University of Washington Archive) Plan of Seattle 1855-1856 History Built for protection from hostile Indians on the north end of the Seattle settlement during the Yakima Indian War (1855-1856). This was a two-story log blockhouse, 25 by 40 feet and 14 feet high, armed with two 9-pounder cannons from the U.S.S. Decatur. During the siege of Seattle on 26 Jan 1856, it was garrisoned by Marines from the U.S.S. Decatur who were attacked by a large number of hostile Indians. The siege was unsuccessful but the threat of a larger force of hostile Indians caused the settlers to build a second blockhouse on the south side and connect these two blockhouses with a series of breastworks and stockades. This second blockhouse was known as Fort Duwamish. No further attacks occurred. Current Status Marker is located in a Seattle City park. This park was populated at the time of our visit with several hundred indigents and far too dangerous to explore. {"selectable":false,"height":"-500","width":"-500"} Location: Site is located at 1st Avenue and Cherry Street in Seattle, King County, Washington. Marker at 3rd Avenue and Jefferson Street, Seattle. Maps & Images Lat: 47.6026 Long: -122.33423 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: ..... Sources: Hart, Herbert M., Tour Guide to Old Western Forts, Pruett Publishing Co., Boulder CO, 1980, ISBN 0-87108-568-2, page 184 Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 831 Links: North American Forts - Fort Decatur History Link - Fort Decatur Wikipedia - Battle of Seattle Fortification ID: WA0128 - Fort Decatur (1) WA0284 - Seattle Blockhouse Visited: 23 Aug 2015 Area