Fort Harrison State Park

Fort Harrison State Park
Today the author talks about historic Fort Harrison State Park, located in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The 1700-acre state park features walking and jogging trails, picnic sites, and fishing with access to Fall Creek. Two National Historic Districts are in the park as well as the Museum of 20th Century Warfare. Visitors can also hike, picnic, fish and stay at the Fort Harrison State Park Inn, Golf Resort, & Conference Center. The fort served as an Army base from 1910 until 1991.
From the Book
East Central Indiana Day Trips

Transcript:

Greetings, today I will talk about Fort Harrison State Park, located in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The 1700 acre state park features walking and jogging trails, picnic sites, fishing access to Fall Creek. Two National Historic Districts are in the park as well as the Museum of 20th Century Warfare.

The United States Congress established Fort Benjamin Harrison in 1902 in the wake of the Spanish American War as part of its effort to expand the United States Army. On June 28, 1904, the US Army announced the purchase of the land on the northeast side of Indianapolis, naming it Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis resident and the twenty-third President of the United States. The Army used funds from the sale of nearby US Arsenal to buy the land for Fort Benjamin Harrison. Construction began in 1906 using plans standardized by the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps. The 10th Infantry Regiment was stationed in the fort in 1908 and construction completed by 1910.
Training, Induction and Release Facility
During the First and Second World Wars, many young Indiana men were inducted and released from Fort Harrison. The fort served as a training facility for officers. During World War II, the Fort also served as a detention center for many Italian and German Prisoners of War. The Army established a Military Police training center in the Fort in 1942. At war’s end, the Army declared the Fort as surplus property. The Army did not abandon the Fort, using it as a National Guard training facility. The Benjamin Harrison Air Force Base operated there from 1948 until 1950 until the equipment and personnel were moved to Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan. Until 1990, the fort served as a training facility for various Army activities and in 1965, the Defense Information School moved there.
Closure
The 1991 Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommended closing the Fort. Though still used by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, most of the Fort has been decommissioned and converted to civilian uses. Residential neighborhoods, a golf course, and Fort Harrison State Park now occupy the former Army fort. The 1700 acre Fort Harrison State Park opened in 1996.

For those wishing to visit the park for more than one day, the Fort Harrison State Park Inn, Golf Resort, & Conference Center provides rooms, a restaurant and a golf course.

5830 N. Post Road
Indianapolis, IN 46216
317-638-6000
http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/inns/ftharrison/index.html
The inn overlooks designed by renowned golf architect Pete Dye.

Visitors will find over 4 miles of trails, picnic shelters that can be rented for events and fishing in Fall Creek.
Other activities include:
Dog Park
Recreation Buildings equipped with kitchenettes and restrooms
Nature Center/
Bicycle Trail
Museum of 20th Century Warfare
Saddle Barn w/ horse trail rides, hay rides
Ice Fishing
Sledding hill and cross-country skiing
Golf Course / 18 holes & Driving Range
Mother’s Mercantile Nature Shop/Store
Bluffs of Fall Creek Nature Preserve
Warbler Woods Nature Preserve
Lawrence Creek Nature Preserve

The episode is based upon my book, East Central Indiana Day Trips , available on the web site, http://www.mossyfeetbooks.com. The book is the fifth book in the 9 volume Road Trip Indiana Series. The books include all the historical markers, as of 2022, in Indiana with the text and back story. The books also include a nearly complete listing of virtually every tourism destination in the state. The destinations include parks, museums, drive in theaters, bowling alleys, wineries and much, much more. I encourage you to visit the web site and subscribe to it. If you like what I am doing, please purchase a book, as it helps fund my work.
You can find my books locally at the at the Romweber Marketplace in downtown Batesville, Indiana.
I hope you enjoyed this podcast and thank you for listening.

History:
The United States Congress established Fort Benjamin Harrison in 1902 in the wake of the Spanish American War as part of its effort to expand the United States Army. On June 28, 1904, the US Army announced the purchase of the land on the northeast side of Indianapolis, naming it Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis resident and the twenty-third President of the United States. The Army used funds from the sale of nearby US Arsenal to buy the land for Fort Benjamin Harrison. Construction began in 1906 using plans standardized by the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps. The 10th Infantry Regiment was stationed in the fort in 1908 and construction completed by 1910.
Training, Induction and Release Facility
During the First and Second World Wars, many young Indiana men were inducted and released from Fort Harrison. The fort served as a training facility for officers. During World War II, the Fort also served as a detention center for many Italian and German Prisoners of War. The Army established a Military Police training center in the Fort in 1942. At war’s end, the Army declared the Fort as surplus property. The Army did not abandon the Fort, using it as a National Guard training facility. The Benjamin Harrison Air Force Base operated there from 1948 until 1950 until the equipment and personnel were moved to Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan. Until 1990, the fort served as a training facility for various Army activities and in 1965, the Defense Information School moved there.
Closure
The 1991 Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommended closing the Fort. Though still used by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, most of the Fort has been decommissioned and converted to civilian uses. Residential neighborhoods, a golf course, and Fort Harrison State Park now occupy the former Army fort. The 1700 acre Fort Harrison State Park opened in 1996.

Hiking:

Harrison Trace Trail: EASY 3.2 miles
Fall Creek Trail: MODERATE 1 mile
Camp Creek Trail: MODERATE 2 miles.
Lawrence Creek Trail: DIFFICULT 4.2
Tree ID Trail: EASY 1 mile
Schoen Creek Trail: DIFFICULT 3 miles

Swimming:
No
Camping:
No

Picnic Areas and Shelters
Visitors will find picnic areas and shelters scattered around the park. Many of the shelters may be reserved.
Sycamore
Reddick
(fireplace)
Cherry Tree
Delaware Lake West
Fort Branch

Fishing:
The park has access to Fall Creek. Indiana license requires.

Other Activities:
Dog Park
Recreation Buildings equipped with kitchenettes and restrooms
Nature Center/
Bicycle Trail
Museum of 20th Century Warfare
Saddle Barn w/ horse trail rides, hayrides
Ice Fishing
Sledding hill and cross-country skiing
Golf Course / 18 holes & Driving Range
Mother’s Mercantile Nature Shop/Store
Bluffs of Fall Creek Nature Preserve
Warbler Woods Nature Preserve
Lawrence Creek Nature Preserve

Contact Information:
Fort Harrison State Park
5753 Glenn Road
Indianapolis, IN 46216
(317) 591-0904
Saddle Barn (317) 541-1866

Mapping Address:
6000 N. Post Road
Indianapolis, IN 46216