Main Parade and chapels

Fort Leavenworth Historical Society

Box 3356

100 Reynolds Ave

Fort Leavenworth, Kansas 66027

913-651-7440

flhsgs@kc.rr.com

Sherman Army airfield Located in the low ground in a bend of the Missouri River, lies Sherman Army Airfield. One of the oldest Army airfield, it was named for Major William C. Sherman, an early Army Aviation pioneer. As early as 1839, this area housed a race track to test the cavalry horses and entertain the men.

In 1877, Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce Indians, refusing the be moved onto a reservation, fled from the Wallowa Valley in present day Washington state on a 1,400 mile pursued by U.S. troops. They finally surrendered to General Nelson A. Miles within miles of the Canadian border and freedom. From 1877 to 1878, Chief Joseph and the remaining 400 Nez Perce Indians were held captive in this river bend before being moved to Oklahoma.

During the Second World War, units of the National Guard and Dutch East Indies air force trained here. By 1945, 60 aircraft were stationed here, and after the creation of the US Air Force, this area operated for five years as Sherman Air Force base.

Sherman Army Airfield

Aerial view of Sherman Army Airfield looking north. The low ground of the field was created from a bend in the Missiouri River.

main parade Colonel Henry Leavenworth began the construction of permanent buildings in this area in 1828. Before Kansa became a territory, tribes in the area would occasionally gather here for negotiations with the Army and the Indian agents who lived at Fort Leavenworth. Today, this area is surrounded by family housing and barracks, and is used for retirement ceremonies, changes of command, and the graduation ceremony for the Command and General Staff College.

former united states disciplinary barracks The complex of stone building behind the high stone wall was the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks. The "DB" as it is known, was established as a military prison in 1874 until it moved to a new facility on Fort Leavenworth in September 2002. The walled area occupied 12 1/2 acres, and the buildings inside date from 1863 to 1964. The stone portion of the wall was built by prison labor in 1909. Its height varies from fifteen to forty-one feet. The dominant domed building inside was known as "the Castle," and housed many of the inmates. Maximum capacity was 1,887, while in its last few years the population fluctuated between 800 and 1,500 inmates. After attempts to salvage the "Castle" for other uses, it was torn down beginning in August 2004. Today, some of the buildings inside the walls are still used as office space.

The new "DB" is located in a remote corner of the post, and today is the only military maximum security faculty. Smaller than the old DB, its houses approximately 500 prisoners from all services of the armed forces. Enlisted personnel convicted of the most serious felonies are housed at Fort Leavenworth while all officers convicted of crimes and sentenced to one day or more confinement are sent here.