The Fort Atkinson site is about 2
miles west of Dodge City on US Highway 50. It was originally established
in 1850 to control Indians and to protect the Santa Fe Trail. In 1851, a
newly built fort was officially designated at Fort Atkinson and was the
first fully garrisoned fort to be erected along the Santa Fe Trail. Its
mission was to protect the Trail from Indian raids. It was not successful
and was abandoned in October of 1854 because of its inadequate buildings and
the difficulty and expense of supplying it.
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