Fort Harrison, sometimes called Fort Ben, is an Indiana state park located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and occupies part of the former site of Fort Benjamin Harrison. The park features a former Citizen’s Military Training Camp, Civilian Conservation Corps camp, and World War II prisoner of war camp. There are also picnicking and walking/jogging trails, including a connection to the Fall Creek Trail. The park receives nearly 900,000 visitors annually. Fort Harrison was opened in 1906 by United States President Theodore Roosevelt, honoring former President Benjamin Harrison, who was from Indianapolis. The idea came from Lieutenant Colonel Russell Harrison, son of recently deceased Benjamin Harrison. He wanted to keep a military facility in Indianapolis due to the legacy of such Indianapolis military facilities as Camp Morton. General Order #117, on June 28, 1904, ordered a land purchase for military use nine miles (14 km) from downtown Indianapolis.
The fort was finished in 1908, after the construction of brick barracks, headquarters, officers’ houses, and hospitals. Other support structures, such as horse stables, were finished at the time. The Tenth Infantry Regiment immediately moved in after these facilities were constructed. The fort represented the first effort to make a national army using state militia forces. It acted as classrooms, soldier support, and troop reception for all United States military activities from World War I to Operation: Desert Storm. During World War II, the base had a prisoner of war camp. Bed Bug Exterminator Indianapolis
Unlike most state parks in Indiana, Fort Harrison is a day-use park, with its only overnight facilities being the inn, The Fort Golf Resort, which was the old officers’ club. The fort’s eighteen-hole golf course makes the park popular with Indianapolis golfers; it was redesigned by Pete Dye after the fort’s closure, making it a 72-par course. Only golfers are allowed on the course. The VIP housing became the Harrison House Suites, and the four Officer’s Homes are also available for overnight lodging.
The Museum of 20th Century Warfare is located in Building 711 in the Historic Camp Glenn area of the park with exhibits about the Fort and technology, artifacts, uniforms, and soldiers of the 20th Century.
Restaurants and Pubs
- Fitzgerald’s Lunch House is located at 9130 Otis Ave, Indianapolis, IN
- Phaya Thai Street Food is located at 5645 N Post Rd, Indianapolis, IN
- Fort Ben Pub is located at 5645 N Post Rd, Indianapolis, IN
- Diamond Chips Lounge is located at 8879 Pendleton Pike, Indianapolis, IN
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