Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
NEWS RELEASE
July 2, 2015
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jeff Walker
Pacific Northwest Region Heritage Program Lead
U.S. Forest Service
503-808-2126
Jwalker02@fs.fed.us
Ian Johnson, Historian
State Historic Preservation Office
503-986-0678
Ian.Johnson@oregon.gov
Site of Early Military Fort added to National Register of Historic Places
The site of a U.S. Army fort that played a role in Indian resettlement in Oregon and in maintaining a federal
presence here during the Civil War is one of Oregon’s latest entries in the National Register of Historic Places.
The 37-acre site is located on the Siuslaw National Forest in Douglas County. At its height in 1859, Fort
Umpqua was comprised of 13 buildings including four officers’ houses, a barracks, blockhouse, hospital, guard
house, two laundress buildings, a bakery, barn, and sutler store. None of the buildings remain today.
The U.S. Forest Service’s primary roles relate to natural resources. However, it also plays a role in caretaking
important cultural resources on federal land. The Fort Umpqua site was an important site more than 150 years
ago.
The fort was established in 1856 as part of a 3-fort system (including Fort Hoskins and Fort Yamhill) to
implement treaties with tribes. When the Civil War began in 1861, most of its troops returned east but a
contingent remained to provide an overall sense of military security to the region. The fort was closed in late
1862.
While serving at the fort in 1856, Brigadier General John J. Milhau set up one of the earliest weather recording
stations on the Oregon coast, collected specimens of flora and fauna for the Smithsonian Institution, and wrote
several reports about the language and culture of the Coos and Lower Umpqua Indians. Colonel Edward P.
Vollum also sent many boxes of plant and wildlife specimens to the Smithsonian and was one of the earliest
amateur photographers on the West Coast.
“We applaud the U.S. Forest Service’s efforts to preserve and develop cultural heritage resources,” said
Chrissy Curran, the deputy state historic preservation officer. “The site of Fort Umpqua is deserving of this
attention.”
More information about the National Register and recent Oregon lists is online at www.oregonheritage.org
(click on “National Register” at left of page).