FORT DODGE

FORT DODGE WAS ESTABLISHED HERE IN 1864 BY MAJ. GEN. GRENVILLE M. DODGE. IT WAS A SUPPLY DEPOT AND BASE OF OPERATIONS AGAINST WARRING PLAINS TRIBES. CUSTER, SHERIDAN, MILES, HANCOCK, "WILD BILL" HICKOK AND "BUFFALO BILL" CODY ARE FIGURES IN ITS HISTORY. THE SITE WAS AN OLD CAMPING GROUND FOR WAGON TRAINS AT THE WESTERN JUNCTION OF THE "DRY" AND "WET" ROUTES OF THE SANTA FE TRAIL. THE FIRST BUILDINGS WERE OF SOD AND ADOBE ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE TROOPS LIVED IN DUGOUTS. SEVERAL OF THE STONE BUILDINGS ERECTED LATER ARE IN USE TODAY. THE FORT WAS ABANDONED IN 1882 AND IS NOW A STATE SOLDIERS' HOME. THE SPANISH EXPLORER, CORONADO, IS BELIEVED TO HAVE CROSSED THE ARKANSAS RIVER A FEW MILES EAST OF HERE IN 1541.