Fort Atkinson State Historical Park

Winter in Fort Atkinson

"Fort Atkinson" by Jan Tik is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Quick Facts

Location:

Fort Calhoun, NE

MANAGED BY:

State of Nebraska

Amenities

5 listed

Audio Description, Benches/Seating, Gifts/Souvenirs/Books, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Information - Ranger/Staff Member Present

Lewis and Clark NHT Visitor Centers and Museums

Visitor Centers (shown in orange), High Potential Historic Sites (shown in black), and Pivotal Places (shown in green) along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail

Known in the history of the Corps of Discovery as the site of “Council Bluffs,” Fort Atkinson State Historical Park allows visitors the chance to walk those same bluffs where Meriwether Lewis and William Clark first encountered the Missouri-Otoe Nation in 1804. Situated just east of Fort Calhoun, NE, Fort Atkinson State Park educates visitors on the military and daily-life frontier experiences of the early 1800s.  

Established as a fort in 1820 at the recommendation of the Lewis & Clark expedition, Fort Atkinson remained a vital outpost for the United States military until 1827. Home to both “The Regulars” (the Sixth Infantry) and the elite Rifle Regiment (second regiment), visitors today can see actor demonstrations of military drills and the daily life of the early American soldier. In addition to reproduction uniforms, the actors utilize reproduction weapons of the Regulars and Rifle Regiment, offering visitors a near authentic experience.  

Among the fort’s reconstructed buildings are a school, a store, blacksmithing and tinsmith shops, and more! Visitors can watch modern day blacksmiths, coopers, carpenters, tinsmiths, spinners and weavers ply their trades before purchasing items they create at the Sutler (the fort store).  

For more information about times and dates when you can see reenactments and artisans at work, contact the park visitor center. The Harold W. Anderson Visitor Center is staffed with park interpreters and open daily with varying closures throughout the year. The park ground itself is open daily at 8 a.m.  

In addition to the sites and sounds of the fort, the park grounds contain two miles of trails with picnic tables and grills for public use. Guests in November can partake in the annual candlelight tour of the fort (contact the visitor center for more details).  

For more information on Fort Atkinson State Historical Park, call 402-468-5611. Admission to the Harold W. Anderson Visitor Center is $2 for adults (13 years and up) and $1 for children 4-12 (3 and under are free). A Nebraska state park permit is required to enter the park grounds (contact the park for more details on how to obtain a permit).