Fort Douglas
Fort Douglas | |
Fort Douglas Military Museum, May 2022 | |
| Location | Salt Lake City, Utah |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°45′55″N 111°49′59″W / 40.76528°N 111.83306°W |
| Area | 25 acres (10 ha) (landmarked area) |
| Built | 1862 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000628 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | June 15, 1970 |
| Designated NHLD | May 15, 1975 |
Fort Douglas (initially called Camp Douglas) was established in October 1862, during the American Civil War, as a small military garrison about three miles east of Salt Lake City, Utah. Its purpose was to protect the overland mail route and telegraph lines along the Central Overland Route. It was officially closed in 1991 pursuant to BRAC action. At one time, the Post contained 10,525 acres; today the military occupies just 58 acres ), operating as the Stephen A. Douglas Armed Forces Reserve Center. The center will be fully shut down by 2026 and the land will be given to the University of Utah for future development.
Most of the fort's former property has been turned over to the University of Utah and many of its buildings are preserved and used by the university for a variety of purposes. The Fort Douglas Military Museum is housed in two former barracks buildings. The fort was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1975, for its role in the Civil War and in furthering the settlement of Utah.