History

Fort Dent, in Tukwila, Washington

Tukwila, Washington

Tukwila is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The northern edge of Tukwila borders the city of Seattle. The population was 19,107 at the 2010 census.-History:...

, was a blockhouse

Blockhouse

In military science, a blockhouse is a small, isolated fort in the form of a single building. It serves as a defensive strong point against any enemy that does not possess siege equipment or, in modern times, artillery...

 built on the orders of Territorial Governor, Isaac Stevens

Isaac Stevens

Isaac Ingalls Stevens was the first governor of Washington Territory, a United States Congressman, and a brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War until his death at the Battle of Chantilly...

, in approximately 1860. It was located southeast of the confluence

Confluence

Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...

 of the Black and Green River

Green River (Washington)

The Green River is a long river in the state of Washington in the United States, arising on the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains south of I-90....

s, which join to form the Duwamish River

Duwamish River

The Duwamish River is the name of the lower of Washington state's Green River. Its industrialized estuary is known as the Duwamish Waterway.- History :...

. It was named for Frederick Dent, the brother-in-law of Ulysses S. Grant

Ulysses S. Grant

Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...

.

Previously the land had been occupied by the Duwamish tribe, but had been partially vacated after the signing of the Point Elliot Treaty in 1855.

Today, the site is occupied by Fort Dent Park

Park

A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...

 and the Starfire Sports Complex

Starfire Sports Complex

Starfire Sports Complex is a sporting facility in Tukwila, Washington, on the banks of the Green River, near Seattle. It is operated by the non-profit corporation Starfire Sports. At the time of its opening, CEO Chris Slatt believed it to be "the largest synthetic-turf soccer complex in the...

, with fields for softball, soccer, and occasionally rugby union games, as well as a 2,000-seat soccer stadium. It became a park of King County, Washington

King County, Washington

King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States....

, in 1968, and in 2003 was acquired by the City of Tukwila, its current owner. The non-profit Starfire Sports operates the sports complex on the site under a 40-year agreement with the city.