This is the story of Fort Bellefontaine, the first US military post west of the Mississippi. Two hundred years ago, it was the last outpost of civilization before heading into the newly purchased Louisiana territory. The fort was witness to many pivotal historic moments in the early days of the United States and was host to several famous American explorers. But, within twenty years of its establishment, the fort was abandoned. Now, Fort Bellefontaine lies drowned beneath the Missouri River, existing only in memory.
Here are some photos from the area near Fort Bellefontaine today:
Sources and Further Reading:
Information about Fort Belle Fontaine County Park: http://spanishlakemo.org/rec_fbf_splash
Military History and the alleged Hauntings: http://www.militaryghosts.com/fortbelle.html
Cantonment Belle Fontaine: https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1046&context=books
National Historic Registry: https://www.nps.gov/places/fort-belle-fontaine.htm
Belle Fontaine in the National Archives: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/10463122
Journal of the Lewis and Clark Expedition: https://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/journals/contents