Installation Summary - FORT McPHERSON Page: 1 of 2
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DCN: 9226
FORT McPHERSON
GEORGIA
LOCATION
Fort McPherson is located within the city limits of Atlanta, Ga., Fulton County. Sitting on
the Southwest edge of Atlanta, the fort is adjacent to the cities of East Point and College Park
to the South. Physically centered between the heart of downtown Atlanta and Hartsfield-
Jackson International Airport, the fort is within four miles of each. A tightly contained
installation situated within a large metropolitan area, Lee Street and GA Highway 166
provide immediate access to three of the major transportation arteries in the Southeast,
Interstates 75, 85, and 20, which are adjacent to the fort. Located on the Metropolitan
Atlanta Rapid Transit Line (MARTA) between Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and
downtown, the fort has immediate access to rail, air and ground transportation.
Topographically the fort is located within the Piedmont Plains region and is situated on
gently rolling hills. Subject to all four seasons, the weather conditions are generally mild
with minimum exposure to harsh conditions.
SIZE
Acres: 572.45
Square Footage of Buildings: 2,247,829 SF
Plant Replacement Value: $389,778,400
HISTORY
The original intention of General Sheridan was to concentrate at the new post one
regiment of artillery. Under the direction of the Quartermaster General, the work on Fort
McPherson began in the fall of 1885. Capt. Joshua West Jacobs, Assistant Quartermaster,
was assigned the task of supervising the construction of the post. He was assigned to
Atlanta from 23 November 1885 to July 1891. The buildings included quarters, barracks,
post headquarters, hospital, bakery, guardhouse, and stables. The 4th Artillery was
selected to garrison the post and Col. Henry W. Closson became the first Post
Commander of Fort McPherson.
From 1894 to the outbreak of the Spanish-American War in 1898, the 5th Infantry
Regiment garrisoned at Fort McPherson. With the departure of the 5th Infantry Regiment,
the post experienced a four- year period of constant rotations. In 1917, during the World
War I Period, Fort McPherson became an officers training camp and a Base Hospital. By
1920 the garrison at Fort McPherson consisted of the hospital, a motor transport
company, and a fire company. In 1922 Fort McPherson became the home of the 22nd
Second Infantry. Lt. Col. W. G. Doane commanded the Regiment. At the outbreak of
World War II over 120 structures were built at Fort McPherson to house the increased
military population. The main objective was to improve the medical station from 256 to
558 beds through the construction of additional hospital buildings. Following World War
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United States. Department of Defense. Installation Summary - FORT McPHERSON, text, September 8, 2005; (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc21475/m1/1/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.