Fort McPherson (Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia)

Atlanta, Fulton County · Georgia · Reconstruction Era, World War I, World War II

Quick BriefFort McPherson was established in 1867 as a post in west Atlanta, initially occupying leased ground where Spelman College later opened. Named for Major General James Birdseye McPherson, the fort served during Reconstruction to enforce Union regulations after the Civil War. Abandoned in 1881 and re-established in 1885 on a permanent site, the post expanded into a major command center, closing in 2011 following BRAC recommendations.

History & Significance

The land, designated as Georgia militia muster grounds in 1835, served as a mobilization site for Confederate forces during the Civil War until troops destroyed fortifications to prevent Union capture. Between 1867 and 1881, infantry regiments and artillery units garrisoned the initial post to enforce Reconstruction policies.

The auctioned site was purchased by the Baptist Missionary Society and became Spelman College. Reestablished in 1885, the installation grew to nearly 500 acres and became one of the largest Army command centers.

During the Spanish-American War, it served as a major hospital; the Seventeenth Artillery Regiment, garrisoned from 1902 to 1917, conducted deployments to Cuba and operations against Pancho Villa in Mexico. World War I transformed the post into a German prisoner internment camp holding over 1,300 captives, a base hospital, and officer training facility.

World War II expanded operations with a reception center for inductees and a separation center that processed nearly 200,000 soldiers. The Third Army and U.S. Army Forces Command remained headquartered at Fort McPherson through the Cold War and Persian Gulf operations until BRAC closure.