Note: This is the first of a series of lists of the U. S. forts of the Wild West. It is intended for use in research by writers, readers, movie fans, and others, so not much information is provided in this list itself; instead, it refers readers, by way of embedded links, to websites that provide brief historical accounts of the forts and, in many cases, one or more photographs or illustrations associated with each of the forts. All photographs and illustrations are in the public domain.
Minnesota (admitted May 11, 1858; previously Minnesota Territory)
Fort Ridgely (1853-1857)
A Wikipedia article provides the history of this fort and and related illustrations.
A Wikipedia article provides the history of this fort and related illustrations.
Fort Wadsworth is mentioned on the Historic Forts website
Sources: https://historicforts.com/historic-forts-in-minnesota/ and Wikipedia
Iowa (admitted December 28, 1846; previously Iowa Territory)
Fort Dodge (originally Fort Clarke) (1850-1853)
A Wikipedia article provides the history of this fort and a related illustration.
A Wikipedia article provides the history of this fort and related illustrations.
A Wikipedia article provides the history of this fort and related illustrations.
Fort Des Moines No. 1 (1834-1830s)
A Wikipedia article provides a brief illustration of this fort’s history and a related illustration; also see the history and related illustration in the Historic Forts website article.
A Historic Forts website article provides a brief account of this fort’s history and a photograph of one of its buildings.
Fort Des Moines No. 3 (early 20th century-post-World War II)
A Historic Forts website article provides a brief account of this fort’s history and a photograph of one of its buildings.
Fort Defiance (1850s-?)
A Historic Forts website article provides a brief account of this fort’s history.
Fort Severson
The Historic Forts website article provides a brief account of this fort’s history.
Fort Sanford (1840s-?)
The Historic Forts website article provides a brief account of this fort’s history.
Fort Dodge 2 (Fort Clark)
A Wikipedia article provides the history of this fort and a related illustration; also see the history and related illustration in the Historic Forts website article.
Sources: https://historicforts.com/historic-forts-in-iowa/ and Wikipedia
