Fort Simcoe

Fort Simcoe is a historic military outpost in Yakima County with five preserved original buildings, including a commander's house, three officer residences, and a wooden blockhouse. The roughly 200-acre grounds are located in an area with natural springs.

The post was built between 1856 and 1859 under Colonel George Wright to monitor the activities of Indigenous peoples in Washington Territory. After military service, the fort was repurposed as a school and later became a memorial site.

The site later became a Native American boarding school where Indigenous children were forced to learn English and undergo cultural assimilation.

Visitors can tour the interpretive center and original buildings from April through September with a Washington State Discover Pass requirement. The pathways between structures are flat and easy to walk.

The post abandoned traditional stockade walls in favor of strategically positioned blockhouses with thick walls and firing ports for defense. This design approach was unusual for military installations in the region.

Location: Yakima County

Architects: Robert Selden Garnett

Website: https://parks.wa.gov/509/Fort-Simcoe

GPS coordinates: 46.34139,-120.83611

Latest update: December 10, 2025 16:26