Fort Logan, Colorado — History & Visitor Guide

Fort Logan (Denver, Colorado)

Denver · Colorado · Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II

Quick BriefFort Logan was a U.S. Army military installation located eight miles southwest of Denver, Colorado, established in October 1887 and lasting until 1946. Initially named Fort Sheridan, the post was renamed Fort Logan in 1889 after Union General John A. Logan, commander of US Volunteer forces during the American Civil War. It served as Colorado's only major military post during World War I, and the site later became home to the Fort Logan National Cemetery and a state mental health facility.

Civil WarOpen to visitors

History & Significance

Authorized by Colorado Senator Henry M. Teller in 1886 and signed by President Cleveland in February 1887, Fort Logan first received troops from the 18th Infantry in October 1887. Locals initially called it Fort Sheridan after General Philip Sheridan, who selected the site, but Sheridan preferred a fort near Chicago and designated the Denver post as Fort Logan in April 1889.

From 1909 to 1922 the fort served as a recruit depot; it was Colorado's sole major military post during World War I. Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Henry C. Merriam commanded the 7th Infantry Regiment from 1889 to 1897, and General Arthur MacArthur Jr., father of General Douglas MacArthur, served as commandant from 1901 to 1902. Troops deployed to South Dakota in December 1890 to intercept Sioux bands, responded to civil unrest in Denver in 1894 during the City Hall dispute, deployed south during the Pullman Strike, and participated in the 1898 Spanish-American War.

The Works Progress Administration and Great Depression-era programs restored deteriorating buildings in the 1930s. During World War II, the post housed an Army Air Forces Clerical School from 1941, opened an Administrative Inspector School in 1942, and served as a prisoner of war camp in 1943 and 1944.

After closure in 1946, the site became a mental health center with first patients admitted in 1961, renamed the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan in 1991. A Queen Anne-style officers' quarters building constructed in 1889 was preserved as a museum.

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🧳 Visiting

What you’ll see when you visit:

Preserved officer's quarters museum displaying military history from Indian Wars through WWII
Grounds of historic military installation established 1887
Fort Logan National Cemetery, final resting place for veterans
Architecture and layout reflecting late 19th-century frontier military design

Best time to visitSpring (April-May) and fall (September-October) offer mild weather ideal for exploring outdoor historic grounds; summers are warm and winters are cold with occasional snow.

Getting thereFly into Denver International Airport (DEN) or Centennial Airport (APA); the fort is located near Denver, Colorado.

From the nearest major airportDenver International Airport (DEN)🚗 35 mi by road⏱️ ≈ 50 min drive

Fort Logan (Denver, Colorado)

History & Significance

Key Facts

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🧳 Visiting

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