Fort Douglas
National Historic Landmark

Fort Douglas

Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah
Listed
June 14, 1970
Type
District
Period
Civil War
Ref No.
70000628

About this property

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.

Location

Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah
40.76248, -111.83284

Categories

MILITARY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Fort Douglas

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Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

Bennion, Howard and Marian, House
Industrial
0.8 mi
University of Utah Circle
Listed
1 mi
Clark, Isaac C. and Dorothy S., House
Industrial
1 mi
Carlson Hall
Industrial
1 mi
Hall, Nels G., House
Industrial
1.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Fort Douglas listed on the National Register?

Fort Douglas was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 14, 1970.

What type of historic resource is Fort Douglas?

Fort Douglas is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Fort Douglas a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Fort Douglas has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Fort Douglas?

The period of significance for Fort Douglas is recorded as the civil_war era, specifically around 1862.

Can I research the history near Fort Douglas?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Fort Douglas will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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