Fort Omaha

Fort Omaha, initially named the Sherman Barracks and then the Omaha Barracks, was first constructed in 1868.  Spanning 81 acres, this site contained a post headquarters, guardhouse, bakery, storehouse, and store.  Fort Omaha’s soldiers provided protection for the Construction of the Union Pacific Railroad in the 1860s, patrolled the streets of frontier Omaha, and fought in American Indian Wars.  Fort Omaha was the site of a historic trial, Standing Bear v. Crook in 1879, which was a landmark ruling for habeas corpus and Native American rights.  Today, Fort Omaha is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is an Omaha Local Landmark.  Many of the original buildings have become classrooms and administrative buildings for the Metropolitan Community College’s Fort Campus.  A walking tour provided by the college can serve as a starting point for learning more about the fort and its history.