Fort Baker (2)

Fort Baker (2) (1855-1858, 1862-1867) - A Mormon settler fort established in 1855 by William Bringhurst in present day Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada. The Mormons abandoned area and the fort in 1858. California Volunteer Union troops occupied the post during the U.S. Civil War and renamed it Fort Baker after Colonel Edward D. Baker, 71st Pennsylvania Infantry, who was killed 21 Oct 1861 at the battle of Ball's Bluff. The post was abandoned as a fortification in 1867. Also known as Mormon Fort, Las Vegas Fort, Stockade at Las Vegas and Detachment at Las Vegas.

Fort Baker (2) History

The original fort was built near a spring fed creek that was an important source of water in the area. The Mormon settlers built an adobe compound 150 feet on a side with bastions at the northeast and northwest corners. One side of the compound contained two story houses. The Mormon settlers were withdrawn back to Salt Lake City in 1857-1858. The abandoned post was then used as a stage stop.

Fort Baker was established in 1862 during the U.S. Civil War by four companies of California Volunteer Union troops who occupied the old Mormon fort. The post was abandoned by the California troops as a fortification at the end of U.S. Civil War

Current Status

An original Adobe building remains in a partially reconstructed compound. Old Las Vegas Mormon State Historic Park in Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada.

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USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: 1680401

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Location: 500 East Washington Avenue, Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada. Maps & Images Lat: 36.18033 Long: -115.13360 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 2060'

Sources:

• Hart, Herbert M., Tour Guide to Old Western Forts, Pruett Publishing Co., Boulder CO, 1980, ISBN 0-87108-568-2, page 91
• 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 489-490

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Baker
• Nevada State Park - Mormon Fort
• Wikipedia - Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park

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