Camp Chelan

Camp Chelan (1879-1880) - Established in 1879 by Colonel Henry C. Merriam and Companies D, E and F of the 2nd U.S. Infantry at the outlet of Lake Chelan. In the spring of 1880, Camp Chelan was relocated from the Foster's Creek area to Lake Chelan. The camp was abandoned in Oct 1880 and the troops moved on to build Fort Spokane (2).

Camp Chelan History

The camp was established as a temporary camp to control and safeguard the Indian Population on the Moses Columbia Reservation. The post was garrisoned by three companies (D, E, and I) of the 2nd U.S. Infantry on 2 Sep 1879. The post was built out with barracks, officer quarters and a sawmill but the remote location and transportation difficulties forced the abandonment of the post. On 13 Oct 1880, four companies of the 2nd U.S. Infantry (D, E, F, and I) under the command of Colonel Merriman moved to the junction of the Spokane River and the Columbia River and began construction on Fort Spokane (2).

Current Status

Unknown.

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Location: East of Chelan, Chelan County, Washington on route 150. Exact location not identified. Maps & Images Lat: 47.828254 Long: -119.983664 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 1200'

Sources:

• Hart, Herbert M., Tour Guide to Old Western Forts, Pruett Publishing Co., Boulder CO, 1980, ISBN 0-87108-568-2, page 182
• 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 830

Links:

• North American Forts - Camp Chelan
• National Park Service
• National Park Service Settlement Patterns
• 2nd U.S. Infantry

Visited: No

Camp Chelan Picture Gallery

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