Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site

Learn about the Bozeman Trail and see the reconstructed army fort.

Fort Phillip Kearny was the largest of the 3 forts built along the Bozeman Trail leading to Montana. The United States Army established the fort on July 15, 1866. The fort's purpose was to help protect travelers making their way along the Bozeman trail from possible attacks by the Plains Native American tribe. The natives were concerned by the pioneer and military that were encroaching on the land. The fort had an 8-foot wood stockade surrounding it, and it encompassed a total of 17 acres.

The staff in the interpretive center show visitors about the Indian Wars and the Bozeman Trail. Guests will see a fort diorama that depicts to scale the complete fort as it would have looked in the fall of 1866. Visitors are welcome to enter the original site through the reconstructed stockade walls and experience the grounds of the largest stockade fort in the west. There are corner posts with signs that show where the original building stood. Stockade sections show how the wall was built to protect the soldiers, families, and supplies from the Native American warriors and hungry timberwolves.

The fort grounds depict what fort life was like and tells of some people that lived in the fort. Pets are welcome on the grounds but not inside the building and must remain leashed at all times. The fort and interpretive center are open seasonally from May 16 to October 1st from 8 am - 6 pm.