Fort Steilacoom
Encyclopedia
For the adjacent park, see Fort Steilacoom Park
Fort Steilacoom was founded by the U.S. Army
in 1849 near Lake Steilacoom
. It was among the first military fortifications built by the U.S. north of the Columbia River
in what was to become Washington. The fort was constructed due to civilian agitation about the massacre
in 1847 at the Whitman mission
.
Indians
of the Nisqually tribe
attacked white settlers in the area on October 29, 1855, as a result of their dissatisfaction with the Treaty of Medicine Creek
that had been imposed on them the previous year, particularly angered that their assigned reservation curtailed the traditional fishing economy. The fort was headquarters for the U.S. 9th Infantry Regiment
during this "Indian War
" of 1855-56. In the course of the conflict, Volunteer U.S. Army Colonel Abraham Benton Moses was killed. At the conclusion of the war, Territorial Governor Isaac Stevens
brought Chief Leschi
of the Nisqually tribe to trial for the death of Moses during a skirmish at Connell's Prairie on October 31, 1855.
Since the death had occurred in combat, the United States Army refused to carry out the sentence of death on the grounds of Fort Steilacoom, maintaining that he was a prisoner of war. The territorial legislature therefore passed a law authorizing Leschi's execution at the hands of civilian authorities. On February 19, 1858, Leschi was hanged in what is today the city of Lakewood
. He was exonerated in 2004.
Fort Steilacoom was decommissioned as a military post in 1868. In 1871 an insane asylum opened there, with the barracks serving as patient and staff housing. Fort Steilacoom is now the mental hospital called Western State Hospital
.
Four cottages from the fort remain as a museum that is open on Sundays in the summer. Special living history re-enactments are held during the year.
Fort Steilacoom Park
Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood, Washington is the largest park in the city. The park includes Waughop Lake, an off-leash dog park, and several soccer fields and baseball fields. It is adjacent to Pierce College, historic Fort Steilacoom, and Western State Hospital.The area became a homesteader's...
Fort Steilacoom was founded by the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 1849 near Lake Steilacoom
Lake Steilacoom
Lake Steilacoom is a reservoir approximately 4 km southwest of Tacoma in Pierce County, Washington, United States. Its boundaries lie entirely within the city of Lakewood, Washington. The reservoir covers approximately , has a mean depth of and a maximum depth of...
. It was among the first military fortifications built by the U.S. north of the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
in what was to become Washington. The fort was constructed due to civilian agitation about the massacre
Whitman massacre
The Whitman massacre was the murder in the Oregon Country on November 29, 1847 of U.S. missionaries Dr. Marcus Whitman and his wife Narcissa Whitman, along with eleven others. They were killed by Cayuse and Umatilla Indians. The incident began the Cayuse War...
in 1847 at the Whitman mission
Whitman Mission National Historic Site
Whitman Mission National Historic Site is a United States National Historic Site located just west of Walla Walla, Washington, at the site of the former Whitman Mission at Waiilatpu. On November 29, 1847, the family of Dr. Marcus Whitman and others were massacred by Native Americans of the Cayuse...
.
Indians
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
of the Nisqually tribe
Nisqually (tribe)
Nisqually is a Lushootseed Native American tribe in western Washington state in the United States. The tribe lives on a reservation in the Nisqually River valley near the river delta. The Nisqually Indian Reservation, at , comprises 20.602 km² of land area on both sides of the river, in...
attacked white settlers in the area on October 29, 1855, as a result of their dissatisfaction with the Treaty of Medicine Creek
Treaty of Medicine Creek
The Treaty of Medicine Creek was an 1854 treaty between the United States, and the Nisqually, Puyallup and Squaxin Island tribes, along with six other smaller Native American tribes.-Site:...
that had been imposed on them the previous year, particularly angered that their assigned reservation curtailed the traditional fishing economy. The fort was headquarters for the U.S. 9th Infantry Regiment
U.S. 9th Infantry Regiment
The 9th Infantry Regiment is one of the oldest and most decorated active duty infantry units in the United States Army.- Early organizations :...
during this "Indian War
Puget Sound War
The Puget Sound War was an armed conflict that took place in the Puget Sound area of the state of Washington in 1855–56, between the United States Military, local militias and members of the Native American tribes of the Nisqually, Muckleshoot, Puyallup, and Klickitat...
" of 1855-56. In the course of the conflict, Volunteer U.S. Army Colonel Abraham Benton Moses was killed. At the conclusion of the war, 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...
brought Chief Leschi
Chief Leschi
Chief Leschi was chief of the Nisqually Native American tribe. He was hanged for murder in 1858, but exonerated in 2004.-Life:...
of the Nisqually tribe to trial for the death of Moses during a skirmish at Connell's Prairie on October 31, 1855.
Since the death had occurred in combat, the United States Army refused to carry out the sentence of death on the grounds of Fort Steilacoom, maintaining that he was a prisoner of war. The territorial legislature therefore passed a law authorizing Leschi's execution at the hands of civilian authorities. On February 19, 1858, Leschi was hanged in what is today the city of Lakewood
Lakewood, Washington
Lakewood is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 58,163 at the 2010 census.-History:Lakewood was officially incorporated on February 28, 1996. Historical names include Lakewood Center and Lakes District...
. He was exonerated in 2004.
Fort Steilacoom was decommissioned as a military post in 1868. In 1871 an insane asylum opened there, with the barracks serving as patient and staff housing. Fort Steilacoom is now the mental hospital called Western State Hospital
Western State Hospital (Washington State)
Western State Hospital is a psychiatric hospital located at 9601 Steilacoom Boulevard SW in Lakewood, Washington, which is a suburb of Tacoma. Administered by the Washington Department of Social and Health Services , it is the largest mental facility west of the Mississippi River, with 806 beds,...
.
Four cottages from the fort remain as a museum that is open on Sundays in the summer. Special living history re-enactments are held during the year.