Fort Osage
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Fort Osage is an early 19th century fort built along the Missouri river just Northwest of Sibley, MO. It was built in 1808 under the direction of William Clark. One of its many purposes, and one of the main purposes, was to be an outpost for the newly acquired Louisiana Territory.
There were many factors that led to the Fort being built in this location. One was that it could capitalize on the fish that entered the Missouri river from the nearby creek named Fishing River. It was also close to the Osage Indians (See Osage Nation) that were located in the area, and it sits on a near 100 ft bluff overlooking the Missouri River.
The head of Fort Osage was a man named George Sibley. His 16 year old wife became a major factor in encouraging trade at the Fort. She would hold piano concerts for the Mountainmen and traders that visited the Fort. The Indians would also come to trade with the military, mountainmen and others.
Unfortunately, after many Indians were forced into reservations in what was known as the "Great American Desert", the use for the Fort declined, many factors contributed to its demise, but in 1836, the Fort was no longer in use, the military moved out and local farmers stripped the Fort of its pre-cut wood from the buildings.
In the 1950's, archeologists discovered the foundations of these buildings and rebuilt the Fort as closely as they could, it now stands, overlooking the Missouri River once again. A school district just outside Independence was named for it.
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