Fort Benjamin Harrison

Infobox_nrhp | name =Fort Benjamin Harrison Historic District
nrhp_type =hd

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caption = Graduates of the U.S. Army Chaplain School at Fort Benjamin Harrison pose for a photograph, April 1942.
location= Indianapolis, Indiana
area =
built =1908
architect= Army Quartermaster Corps
architecture= Colonial Revival
added = September 06, 1995
governing_body = United States Army
refnum=93001581 cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2006-03-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

Fort Benjamin Harrison was a U.S. Army post located on the northeast side of Indianapolis, Indiana, named for the 23rd United States President, Benjamin Harrison. Land was purchased in 1903, with the post being officially named for President Harrison in honor of Indianapolis being his hometown.

Fort Benjamin Harrison saw its highest level of activity during World War I and World War II. It was the largest WWII reception center in the United States. From 1948 to 1950, the post functioned as Benjamin Harrison Air Force Base, belonging to the United States Air force, before the U.S. Army reacquired it.

Just prior to the fort's closing, it was the home of the Defense Information School (DINFOS). This was staffed by enlisted personnel and officers from all branches of the US military along with members of allied military personnel. DINFOS trained print, radio and television personnel to report all manner of military activities. A very difficult curriculum, DINFOS (now located at Fort Meade in Maryland) was, and remains, a very taxing curriculum.

Fort Benjamin Harrison was closed as part of the 1991 Base Closure and Realignment Commission, though most of the active component remained housed there through the end of 1992. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service—Indianapolis, several U.S. Army Reserve and Indiana National Guard units, and a Post Exchange and Commissary are still located at the former post.

Today, the site of the base has been redeveloped, and includes residential neighborhoods, a golf course, and is the site of Fort Harrison State Park.

References

External links

* [http://www.fhra.org/ Benjamin Harrison Reuse Authority]
* [http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/indianapolis/index.htm Indianapolis, a National Park Service "Discover Our Shared Heritage" Travel Itinerary]