Fort Churchill State Historic Park
Encyclopedia
Fort Churchill State Historic Park is a 4461 acres (18.1 km²) Nevada state park in Lyon County
, Nevada
, in the United States
. Located south of the town of Silver Springs
, it is in the Central Nevada Region of Nevada State Parks, and is one of seven National Historic Landmarks in the state of Nevada. The site is one end of the historic Fort Churchill and Sand Springs Toll Road
. It is located on U.S. Route 95 Alternate, 8 miles (12.9 km) south of U.S. Route 50
.
s and Bannock
s attacked Williams Station along the Carson River in retaliation for the kidnap and rape of two young Paiute girls by the proprietors of the station. In retaliation a small group of volunteer soldiers and vigilantes led by Maj. William Ormsby
attacked the Native Americans starting the so-called Pyramid Lake War. Ormsby's force was defeated and in response Colonel John C. Hays and Captain Joseph Stewart
led a larger force of volunteers and U.S. Regulars to defeat the Natives at the Second Battle of Pyramid Lake
.
Captain Stewart, leading the Regular contingent, afterward established a permanent U.S. Army fort along the Carson River near the location of where the hostilities began at Williams Station. The post was named Fort Churchill for Sylvester Churchill
, Inspector General of the U.S. Army. Construction on the fort began on July 20, 1860 and was completed in 1861. Built to provide protection for early settlers and the mail route along the Pony Express
, the fort became an important supply depot for the Union Army during the American Civil War. Average strength during this time was 200 soldiers, but the post was abandoned in 1869 shortly after the conclusion of the Civil War.
The abandoned buildings were sold at an auction for $750 after the state of Nevada declined to take possession of property.
. On February 16, 1961 the fort and surrounding property were once again acquired by the state for the proclamation of a state historic site and was also declared a National Historic Landmark
the same year.
Aided by the National Park Service
the fort ruins were partially restored to a state of arrested decay and the Civilian Conservation Corps
helped build the current visitor center.
and provides habitat for diverse plants and wildlife.
. The Pony Express also had a change of mounts at the ranch. When Fort Churchill was abandoned and being dismantled, Buckland salvaged materials to build the current two-story building seen today. The state park added this building to the Fort Churchill State Historic Site in 1997.
Within the Fort Churchill unit is a 20-site campground is situated along the Carson River within a grove of cottonwood trees with an adjacent group-camp and day-use picnic areas. There is a primitive camp further along the Carson River in the Carson River Ranches unit.
Hiking trails include a self-guides trail around the fort ruins with interpretive signs explaining each of the buildings. The Orchard Trail runs along the Carson River from the campground to Buckland Station. A continuation of this trail runs the length of the Carson River in the Carson River Ranches unit.
Twice a year the Nevada Civil War Volunteers put on a civil war encampment at Fort Churchill.
Lyon County, Nevada
Lyon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2010 census, the population was 51,980. Its county seat is Yerington.-History:...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Located south of the town of Silver Springs
Silver Springs, Nevada
Silver Springs is a census-designated place in Lyon County, Nevada, United States at the intersection of U.S. 50 and U.S. 95A. The population was 4,708 at the 2000 census. Lahontan Reservoir, Lahontan State Recreation Area and historic Fort Churchill State Historic Park are all located nearby...
, it is in the Central Nevada Region of Nevada State Parks, and is one of seven National Historic Landmarks in the state of Nevada. The site is one end of the historic Fort Churchill and Sand Springs Toll Road
Fort Churchill and Sand Springs Toll Road
Fort Churchill and Sand Springs Toll Road was opened in 1866.A segment of the toll road within Churchill County, Nevada is listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 24, 1974. This segment allowed a team of 18 mules to pull three heavily laden freight wagons across a mountain...
. It is located on U.S. Route 95 Alternate, 8 miles (12.9 km) south of U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50 in Nevada
U.S. Route 50 is a transcontinental highway in the United States, stretching from Sacramento, California in the west to Ocean City, Maryland on the east coast. The Nevada portion crosses the center of state and was named The Loneliest Road in America by Life magazine in July 1986...
.
Fort History
In 1860 a band of PaiutePaiute
Paiute refers to three closely related groups of Native Americans — the Northern Paiute of California, Idaho, Nevada and Oregon; the Owens Valley Paiute of California and Nevada; and the Southern Paiute of Arizona, southeastern California and Nevada, and Utah.-Origin of name:The origin of...
s and Bannock
Bannock
Bannock has more than one meaning:* Bannock , a kind of bread, usually prepared by pan-frying* Bannock , a Native American people of what is now southeastern Oregon and western Idaho* Bannock County, Idaho* Bannock, Ohio...
s attacked Williams Station along the Carson River in retaliation for the kidnap and rape of two young Paiute girls by the proprietors of the station. In retaliation a small group of volunteer soldiers and vigilantes led by Maj. William Ormsby
William Ormsby
William Matthew Ormsby was an early settler of Nevada who was instrumental in the establishment of Carson City and the Nevada Territory. Major Ormsby was killed leading a vigilante force against Paiute Indians near Pyramid Lake.-Early Life:...
attacked the Native Americans starting the so-called Pyramid Lake War. Ormsby's force was defeated and in response Colonel John C. Hays and Captain Joseph Stewart
Joseph Stewart (Alaska)
Joseph Stewart was an officer in the United States Army notable for serving as commander of Fort Alcatraz, Fort Churchill and the Department of Alaska. His name is occasionally seen as Jasper Stewart.-Early life:...
led a larger force of volunteers and U.S. Regulars to defeat the Natives at the Second Battle of Pyramid Lake
Second Battle of Pyramid Lake
The Second Battle of Pyramid Lake took place in response to the U.S. defeat at the First Battle of Pyramid Lake. A well-organized force of militia and regulars, under the capable leadership of famed Texas Ranger Col. John C. “Jack” Hays, defeated the Paiute warriors under Chief Numaga...
.
Captain Stewart, leading the Regular contingent, afterward established a permanent U.S. Army fort along the Carson River near the location of where the hostilities began at Williams Station. The post was named Fort Churchill for Sylvester Churchill
Sylvester Churchill
Sylvester Churchill was an American journalist and Regular Army officer.-Early life:Churchill was born in Woodstock, Vermont, the son of Joseph and Sarah Churchill...
, Inspector General of the U.S. Army. Construction on the fort began on July 20, 1860 and was completed in 1861. Built to provide protection for early settlers and the mail route along the Pony Express
Pony Express
The Pony Express was a fast mail service crossing the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, and the High Sierra from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California, from April 3, 1860 to October 1861...
, the fort became an important supply depot for the Union Army during the American Civil War. Average strength during this time was 200 soldiers, but the post was abandoned in 1869 shortly after the conclusion of the Civil War.
The abandoned buildings were sold at an auction for $750 after the state of Nevada declined to take possession of property.
State Park
On October 6, 1932 the state took control of the 200 acre (0.809372 km²) but two years later deeded the property to a local chapter of the DARDaughters of the American Revolution
The Daughters of the American Revolution is a lineage-based membership organization for women who are descended from a person involved in United States' independence....
. On February 16, 1961 the fort and surrounding property were once again acquired by the state for the proclamation of a state historic site and was also declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
the same year.
Aided by the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
the fort ruins were partially restored to a state of arrested decay and the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
helped build the current visitor center.
Carson River Ranches
In 1994, the state park service acquired 3200 acres (12.9 km²) of land east of the fort and Buckland Station. This corridor connects Fort Churchill with Lahontan State Recreation AreaLahontan State Recreation Area
Lahontan State Recreation Area is a state park unit of Nevada, USA, surrounding Lake Lahontan on the Carson River. Lahontan became a Nevada State Recreation Area on July 1, 1971...
and provides habitat for diverse plants and wildlife.
Buckland Station
Samuel S. Buckland came to the area in 1859 to begin ranching. His ranch served as an important way station along the Overland TrailOverland Trail
The Overland Trail was a stagecoach and wagon trail in the American West during the 19th century. While portions of the route had been used by explorers and trappers since the 1820s, the Overland Trail was most heavily used in the 1860s as an alternative route to the Oregon, California and Mormon...
. The Pony Express also had a change of mounts at the ranch. When Fort Churchill was abandoned and being dismantled, Buckland salvaged materials to build the current two-story building seen today. The state park added this building to the Fort Churchill State Historic Site in 1997.
Park Facilities
The Visitor Center has exhibits on the history of Fort Churchill, Native Americans that inhabited the area, and natural features of the surrounding countryside.Within the Fort Churchill unit is a 20-site campground is situated along the Carson River within a grove of cottonwood trees with an adjacent group-camp and day-use picnic areas. There is a primitive camp further along the Carson River in the Carson River Ranches unit.
Hiking trails include a self-guides trail around the fort ruins with interpretive signs explaining each of the buildings. The Orchard Trail runs along the Carson River from the campground to Buckland Station. A continuation of this trail runs the length of the Carson River in the Carson River Ranches unit.
Twice a year the Nevada Civil War Volunteers put on a civil war encampment at Fort Churchill.