Fort George G. Meade (Fort Meade, Maryland, Maryland)

Fort Meade, Maryland · Maryland · World War I onwards

Quick BriefFort George G. Meade became an active Army installation in 1917 as one of 16 cantonments built for troops drafted for the war with the Central Powers in Europe. During World War I, more than 400,000 soldiers passed through Fort Meade, a training site for three infantry divisions, three training battalions and one depot brigade.

Active base today

History & Significance

Authorized by an Act of Congress in May 1917, the site was selected on June 23, 1917 because of its close proximity to the railroad, Baltimore port and Washington D.C. The post was originally named Camp Meade for Major General George Gordon Meade, whose victory at the Battle of Gettysburg proved a major factor in turning the tide of the Civil War in favor of the North. During World War I, more than 400,000 soldiers passed through Fort Meade as a training site for three infantry divisions, three training battalions and one depot brigade.

In 1928, the post was redesignated Fort Leonard Wood, but Pennsylvania congressmen, angry at removing the name of native son George Meade, held up Army appropriations until the Army agreed to name the new permanent installation Fort George G. Meade on March 5, 1929. During World War II, Fort Meade became a training center whose ranges and other facilities were used by more than 200 units and roughly 3.5 million soldiers between 1942 and 1946, with wartime military personnel peaking at 70,000 in March 1945. In 1957, the post became headquarters of the National Security Agency.