Fort Oglethorpe is unique among its sister cities in Northwest Georgia. Its position in the military history of the United States is secure and well documented. At the northern gateway to the Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park, Fort Oglethorpe lies just seven miles south of Chattanooga, a city of great scenic beauty, a seat of Cherokee Indian culture, the site of Civil War battles, and of Twentieth Century revitalization of the entire Tennessee river valley. The City of Fort Oglethorpe is a successful example of adaptive restoration; a 1949 municipality built upon and utilizing the facilities of a 1902 US Army Post.

The US Army Post of Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, was established in 1902 and all the permanent buildings were substantially complete by 1904. While most know Fort Oglethorpe as the home of the Sixth Cavalry, it was 1919 before the "Sixth" moved to this Post. Before that time Fort Oglethorpe was home to the Third, Seventh, Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Cavalry.

Fort Oglethorpe was greatly expanded during World War I growing to 60,000 troops and over 1600 buildings. Three separate camps extended southward into the Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park (All traces of the camps have now been removed.). The parade ground, encompassed by Barnhardt Circle, was the site of a detention camp for enemy aliens and POW's of that war.

The 20's and 30's saw Fort Oglethorpe become one of the elite Army Posts in the nation. The elegance of its architecture, from the Classic Renaissance of the original construction to the later Neo-Classic, lent an air of charming unity. While the Sixth Cavalry became the darling of society's debutantes, their duties were as strict as during the war years and protocol was always adhered to. One can almost picture nervous Second Lieutenants and their brides paying calls on the Post Commander, the Regimental Commander, the Field Grade Officers, and so on down the line or around the Circle.

Sunday afternoon Polo matches were famous throughout southeast Tennessee and northwest Georgia. They comprise "THE Fort Oglethorpe" memory of most people who lived in these areas back then. As a matter of interest, most people you talk with around here still refer to the Parade Ground as "The Polo Field." Equally as notable were the horse shows on the Parade Ground. The Drill Team, Mounted Band, and the Mounted Guard were stirring sights on Parade. In the latter 30's and early 40's Fort Oglethorpe again prepared for war. Mechanization was the new by-word as bantam cars were added to the Sixth Cavalry. By 1942, when the Sixth was transferred to South Carolina, the horses were gone.

The entry of the United States into World War II again saw the enlargement of the Fort. An Induction Center was established here and many veterans we have talked with remember with pride spending their first few days in the Army at the famous Fort Oglethorpe. Prison barracks and stockades once again became part of the Fort as POW's and enemy aliens again "sat out the war."  On a number of occasions the real Sergeant York [ 48K ] (not Gary Cooper) visited the fort as a moral booster.

In 1943 all men were removed from the Post as Fort Oglethorpe had become the Training Center for the Women's Third Army Corps. During that year President Franklin Delano Roosevelt stopped here to inspect the women's training program. There are photographs of his visit in our entrance foyer. In one of those you can see "The Captain's Quarters" in the background.  That year Bing Crosby [ 60K ] also paid the ladies a visit.

As the War drew to an end, the WAC Training Center was closed (July of 1945) and Fort Oglethorpe became a Redistribution Center for out-processing returning GI's. Thousands of soldier received their Discharge from the Armed Services here in 1945 and 1946.

In 1947 Fort Oglethorpe was declared surplus by the Army and the town of Fort Oglethorpe was born. Today some 100 structures remain from 1902-04 forming the core of the Historic District of Fort Oglethorpe. The Captain's Quarters is pleased to be a part of this fine heritage.

Excerpted from "A Guide to the Historic District of Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia" published by Fort Oglethorpe Preservation Society (1975)