Fort Omaha
Fort Omaha (1868-1896, 1905-1947) - First established in 1868 as Camp Sherman by Capt. William Sinclair, 3rd U.S. Artillery and named after Lt. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman. In 1869 the post was renamed Omaha Barracks and finally renamed Fort Omaha on 30 Dec 1878. Abandoned in 1896 for Fort Crook but reestablished several times until 1947. Also known as Sherman Barracks.
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Fort Omaha History
Officially abandoned in 1896. In 1905 the post became a Signal Corps School and the first observation balloon flight was launched in 1909. The post was again abandoned in 1913 when the Signal Corps School was moved to Fort Leavenworth.
World War I
Fort Omaha was reactivated and became the site of the first military balloon school in 1916 as the Balloon Section of the American Expeditionary Force. In 1918 Fort Crook became a subpost of Fort Omaha and served as a basic training center for recruits entering the balloon service. In 1919 the balloon equipment and troops were removed from both Fort Crook and Fort Omaha and the entire school was removed by 1921.
World War II
Fort Omaha was a support installation and an Italian POW work camp during World War II.
Current Status
Remaining buildings on the campus of Metropolitan Community College.
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Location: Metropolitan Community College, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska. Maps & Images Lat: 41.3091642 Long: -95.9586252 |
Sources:
- 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 485
- Barnes, Jeff, Forts of the Northern Plains - Guide to Historic Military Posts of the Plains Indian Wars, Copyright 2008, Stackpole Books, ISBN 13: 978-0-8117-3496-7, ISBN 10: 0-8117-3496-X, page 78-83
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Fort Omaha Picture Gallery
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