Fort Carson (Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Colorado Springs · Colorado · World War II

Quick BriefCamp Carson was established in 1942 following Pearl Harbor, with Colorado Springs purchasing and donating land to the War Department. During World War II, over 100,000 soldiers trained at the camp. It became "Fort Carson" in 1954 and remains an active Army post today.

Active base today

History & Significance

Established in 1942 following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, Camp Carson was created when Colorado Springs purchased land south of the city and donated it to the War Department, with the first building completed on January 31, 1942. Named in honor of legendary Army scout General Christopher "Kit" Carson who explored the American West in the 1800s, the installation became a major training complex.

Built to accommodate 35,173 enlisted men, 1,818 officers, and 592 nurses, the 89th Infantry Division was activated there as the first major unit. Over 100,000 soldiers trained during the war, and four infantry divisions—the 89th, 71st, 104th, and 10th Mountain—were activated, along with more than 125 additional units.

Camp Carson also housed nearly 9,000 Axis prisoners of war, mostly Italians and Germans, with the internment camp opening on January 1, 1943. Activity declined sharply after World War II, dropping to around 600 personnel by April 1946, but the Korean War revived the installation. In 1954, Camp Carson became Fort Carson, and mechanized units assigned in the 1960s prompted expansion to 140,000 acres.