View source for Fort Thomas (Kentucky)

{{PageHeader|Thomas (1)}}
'''Fort Thomas''' (1889-1964) - First established in 1889 on a site selected by General [[Philip H. Sheridan]], {{Cullum|1612}}. Named after General [[George H. Thomas]], {{Cullum|1028}}, [[U.S. Civil War]] General. Active duty military left in 1964, reserve units remain.
{|width="795px" cellpadding="5px"
|- valign="top"
|width="50%"|[[File:Fort Thomas Officers Quarters 1.jpg|350px|thumb|left|Fort Thomas Officer Quarters.]]
|width="50%"|[[File:Fort Thomas - 22.jpg|350px|thumb|right|Fort Thomas Armory Building.]]
|-
|colspan="2"|[[File:Fort Thomas Mess Hall.jpg|795px|thumb|center|Fort Thomas Mess Hall Building.]]
== History ==
[[File:Fort Thomas - 26.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Fort Thomas Stone Water Tower]]
Built on a site selected by General [[Philip H. Sheridan]] in 1887 as a replacement for [[Newport Barracks (Kentucky)]]. The fort was situated on a bluff above the Ohio River about three miles from the town of Newport, Kentucky. First garrisoned 15 Aug 1890 by two companies of the [[6th U.S. Infantry]] and first commanded by Colonel [[Melville Cochran]]<!-- not USMA -->.

One of the early structures built on the new post was a 102 foot Kentucky limestone water tower. Within the tower is a 100,000-gallon standpipe that stores water and supplies water pressure for the post. The tower was a fortress-like structure built in 1890 at a cost of $10,995. The tower has been embellished over the years with plaques and a set of cannons commemorating various war heroes, battles and wars.

Other permanent structures on the post included two sets of officer housing (Greene Street and Alexander Circle), a large brick barracks building, NCO quarters, a brick mess hall and a large brick armory building. Temporary housing and barracks supplemented the permanent structures during the [[World War I]] and [[World War II]] expansions.

Fort Thomas first served as a replacement for [[Newport Barracks (Kentucky)]] and over the years it served as a replacement depot, induction center, and military hospital before closing in 1946.
{{Clr}}

== Current Status ==
Most of the post was taken over by the VA Hospital and the City of Fort Thomas. The U.S. Army Reserves and the U.S. Corps of Engineers also maintain facilities on the post.

The officer quarters on Greene Street were privatized and sold to individuals in 1992, creating an upscale "Military Commons". These homes have been modernized internally with the exteriors kept keeping their 1890s look. The officer quarters on Alexander Circle remain unoccupied and deteriorating. The large brick barracks is now part of the VA complex and the brick mess hall is a community center.
----
{{#display_map:
39.06804,-84.44342~ Fort Thomas }}
{{Location|Campbell County, Kentucky.|39.06804|-84.44342|843}}

'''Sources:''' 
* {{Roberts}}, page 321

'''Links:'''
* [http://www.northamericanforts.com/East/ky.html#thomas North American Forts - Fort Thomas]
* [http://www.cincinnati.va.gov/visitors/fort_thomas.asp VA - Fort Thomas]
* [http://www.ftthomas.org/History.html Fort Thomas Official City Site]

{{Visited|5 Sep 2010}}


<!-- [[Category:Kentucky]] -->
[[Category:Kentucky Forts]]
<!-- [[Category:Kentucky Campbell County]] -->
<!-- [[Category:World War I Forts]] -->
<!-- [[Category:World War II Forts]] -->
[[Category:Active Military]]
[[Category:City Park]]
[[Category:Starter Page]]
[[Category:2010 Northern Trip]]
[[Category:Preserved]]
[[Category:World War I]]
[[Category:World War II]]
{{PageFooter}}