Fort Benjamin Harrison

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Fort Benjamin Harrison Historic District
(U.S. Registered Historic District)
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Built/Founded: 1908
Architect: Army Quartermaster Corps
Architectural style(s): Colonial Revival
Added to NRHP: September 06, 1995
Reference #: 93001581 [1]
Governing body: United States Army

Fort Benjamin Harrison was a U.S. Army post located on the northeast side of Indianapolis, Indiana, named for the 23rd United States President Benjamin Harrison. Land was purchased in 1903, with the post officially being named for President Harrison in honor of Indianapolis being his hometown.

Fort Benjamin Harrison saw its highest level of activity during World War I and Word War II. It was the largest WWII reception center in the United States From 1948 to 1950, the post functioned as Benjamin Harrison Air Force Base before the U.S. Army reacquired it.

Fort Benjamin Harrison was closed as part of the 1991 Base Closure and Realignment Commission. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service - Indianapolis is still located at the former post, as well as several U.S. Army Reserve and Indiana National Guard units, and a PX and commissary.

Today, the site of the base has been largely redeveloped, and includes residential neighborhoods, a golf course, and Fort Harrison State Park.

While still an active Army post, it was derogatorily known as "Uncle Ben's Rest Home" because of the schoolhouse nature of the post and the lack of combat units.

[edit] References

  1. ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2006-03-15).

[edit] External links

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