Fort McPherson

Fort McPherson
Company type	Military installation (former)
Industry	Military
Founded	September 1867
Fate	Closed due to 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)
Headquarters	East Point, Atlanta, United States
Area served	Southeastern United States
Products	Military command center, training ground, detention center
Number of employees	2,453 (with Fort Gillem in 2007) (2007)

Fort McPherson was a U.S. Army installation located near East Point in Atlanta, Georgia. It functioned as the command center for several military entities, including the U.S. Army Installation Management Command Southeast Region, U.S. Army Forces Command, U.S. Army Reserve Command, and U.S. Army Central. Spanning 487 acres and situated approximately four miles southwest of Atlanta’s downtown, Fort McPherson’s origins trace back to 1867.

History

The fort, named in honor of Major General James B. McPherson, was founded in September 1867 on land that is currently home to Spelman College. During the Reconstruction era (1867–1881), it was referred to as "McPherson Barracks," where units such as the 2nd, 16th, and 18th Infantry Regiments along with the 5th Artillery were stationed to enforce post-Civil War policies.

Following the conclusion of Reconstruction, the barracks were closed in 1881 but remained in seasonal use by military personnel until the Army repurchased the property in 1885 to accommodate ten companies.

In World War I, Fort McPherson served dual roles as a detention center for German prisoners of war and a training ground for Active Army troops and Georgia National Guard units. Officers also examined local Civil War-era trenches to prepare for trench warfare tactics.

During the 1934 General Textile Workers Strike, the fort was utilized to hold picketers arrested during a cotton mill strike in Newnan.

Fort McPherson’s closest military counterpart was Fort Gillem (previously known as Atlanta Army Depot), established in 1941 in Forest Park roughly 11 miles southeast. Fort Gillem provided logistical support and housed several units including First Army, the Army and Air Force Exchange Distribution Center, Military Entrance Processing Station, and Second Recruiting Brigade. It also contained the Army’s sole crime laboratory. The two installations shared numerous services; following Fort McPherson’s decommissioning, Fort Gillem was downsized and became an enclave partner with Fort Gordon after the 2005 BRAC commission.

By 2007, both installations collectively employed 2,453 active duty soldiers and 3,784 civilian workers with a total payroll amounting to $529.9 million.

Housing availability was limited: Fort McPherson offered 102 family housing units and 272 single-soldier accommodations; Fort Gillem had only 10 family quarters. The majority of military personnel and Department of the Army civilian employees resided off-post in neighboring counties such as Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Fayette, and Henry.

Moreover, more than 98,700 military and naval retirees along with their families primarily lived within Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Clayton, Fayette, Gwinnett, and Henry counties surrounding Atlanta.

Transportation

The primary public transit access point for Fort McPherson was the Lakewood/Fort McPherson station operated by MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority).

After closure

On June 26, 2015, the Fort Mac Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA) took control of 145 acres of the former Fort McPherson site in Southwest Atlanta to manage its redevelopment and ensure quality reuse. Members of the Fort Mac LRA board are appointed by officials from the Mayor’s office of Atlanta, Fulton County Commission, or the Governor’s office. In June 2015, actor and producer Tyler Perry acquired 330 acres of the former fort to establish his new Tyler Perry Studios headquarters.

2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)

In accordance with the BRAC 2005 mandate, Fort McPherson officially ceased operations on September 15, 2011, while Fort Gillem was downsized to function as a military enclave.

Relocated Units

During the late 2010s, several prominent units were transferred from Fort McPherson. These included the U.S. Army Forces Command Headquarters and U.S. Army Reserve Command Headquarters, both moved to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The U.S. Army Central Headquarters relocated to Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. Additionally, the Installation Management Command Southeast Region and U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command Southeast Region were reassigned to Fort Eustis, Virginia, and the Army Contracting Agency Southern Region Office shifted to Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

Units formerly stationed at Fort Gillem included First Army Headquarters, which moved to Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois; the 2nd Recruiting Brigade transferred to Redstone Arsenal, Alabama; the 52nd Ordnance Group (EOD) relocated to Fort Campbell, Kentucky; the 81st Regional Readiness Command Equipment Concentration Site was reassigned to Fort Benning, Georgia; and the U.S. Army Central Headquarters support office also moved to Shaw Air Force Base. The Atlanta Distribution Center of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service was closed, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency vacated the installation.

Presently, Fort Gillem continues to serve as an enclave for the Georgia Army National Guard, remaining 81st RRC elements, the Criminal Investigation Division Forensics Laboratory, and Navy Reserve Intelligence Area 14 from Naval Air Station Atlanta. Additional units relocated into this enclave include the Atlanta Fraud Residence Agency, Southeastern Fraud Field Office, South East Regional Storage Management Office, and Civil Support Readiness Group-East.

Forest Park/Fort Gillem Redevelopment

The Forest Park/Fort Gillem Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA) has pursued economic revitalization through a redevelopment strategy prioritizing light industrial and logistics industries, complemented by commercial, residential, and retail developments. Adopted in August 2014, this plan also focuses on enhancing education quality, community well-being, and social cohesion.

McPherson Redevelopment

Following authorization by the Department of Defense post-2005, the McPherson Planning Local Redevelopment Authority (MPLRA) oversaw Fort McPherson’s redevelopment after its closure. Representing various jurisdictions impacted by the base shutdown, MPLRA acquired the property in November 2023 for roughly $30 million.

In September 2007, MPLRA ratified a reuse blueprint that included:

An employment district designed as a biomedical research park supported by state funding and entities within the Georgia University system. This development envisions roughly of office and laboratory facilities alongside more than 1,900 high-density residential units. Key stakeholders include the University System Board of Regents, local governments, and private sector collaborators.
A mixed-use "Main Street" area featuring mid-rise residential buildings, a hotel, public plazas, street-level retail shops, dining establishments, offices, and grocery stores.
A historic district covering , centered around the parade ground with structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This zone will be developed as a mixed-use cultural hub; Staff Row is preserved for single-family homes or compatible residential purposes.
Up to 4,600 housing units blending market-rate apartments, upscale residences, affordable housing options, and accommodations for formerly homeless or at-risk households.
Approximately of green space linking to the historic district to create a public Linear Park connecting MARTA stations from north to south. Included within this is around dedicated for hosting special events and festivals.
The transfer of 10 acres along with six buildings to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs intended for veteran services such as clinics and rehabilitation programs.

In August 2014, proposals emerged regarding the sale of a significant portion of McPherson property to filmmaker Tyler Perry. This development sparked demands from State Senator Vincent Fort and local residents for increased transparency about the transaction.

Installation Management Command, Southeast Region

The Installation Management Command, Southeast Region (IMCOM-SE), headquartered in Building 171 at Fort McPherson, is responsible for overseeing Army installations throughout the southeastern United States and Puerto Rico. Employing more than 15,000 personnel and managing an annual budget of $2.2 billion, IMCOM-SE administers base operations, public works, family support programs, and ensures the readiness of Soldiers and units.

IMCOM-SE provides a wide range of installation services including morale, welfare, and recreation programs; educational opportunities; dining facilities; religious support; force protection measures; emergency response services; environmental stewardship; housing management; and the execution of Department of Defense base realignment initiatives.

The command’s jurisdiction encompasses Anniston Army Depot, Alabama; Blue Grass Army Depot, Kentucky; Fort Benning, Georgia; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Fort Eisenhower, Georgia; Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Fort Knox, Kentucky; Fort McPherson, Georgia; Fort Novosel, Alabama; Fort Stewart, Georgia; several ammunition plants located in Tennessee and Mississippi; Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point, North Carolina; Redstone Arsenal, Alabama; and the U.S. Army Garrison in Miami, Florida.

By supporting senior mission commanders through the management of daily garrison functions, IMCOM-SE prioritizes public safety, resource management, community and family services, as well as infrastructure upkeep.

As one of six regional commands under the larger Installation Management Command headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, IMCOM-SE traces its origins to the Installation Management Agency created in 2002. In 2006, it was reorganized into a three-star command by consolidating essential support centers into a single direct reporting unit.

U.S. Army Forces Command

Based at Fort McPherson, U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) stands as the largest command within the U.S. Army and serves as the primary provider of combat-ready forces to combatant commanders worldwide. It integrates a force exceeding 750,000 Soldiers drawn from the Army National Guard, Army Reserve, and active duty components, supported by over 2,400 civilian employees to deliver global land power capabilities.

FORSCOM is responsible for training, mobilizing, deploying, sustaining, transforming, and reconstituting combat-ready units through the Army Force Generation cycle to address diverse mission requirements ranging from combat engagements to humanitarian assistance.

Reporting directly to the Army chief of staff on matters of readiness and deployment, FORSCOM also functions as an Army Service Component Command under Joint Forces Command at Norfolk, Virginia. In this capacity, it provides forces for joint operations and multinational training exercises.

The active duty contingent comprises nearly 200,000 Soldiers organized into three corps: I Corps at Fort Lewis, Washington; III Corps at Fort Cavazos, Texas; and XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg. These formations include eight divisions along with numerous brigade combat teams fully equipped with combat support elements.

First Army, stationed at Fort Gillem, operates under FORSCOM’s authority and is tasked with overseeing training and mobilization assistance for National Guard and Reserve units within FORSCOM’s operational scope. The Army Reserve contributes approximately 45% of total combat service support personnel and 30% of combat support units—specializing in medical services, civil affairs, transportation, maintenance, and supply—with many units deploying early during contingency operations.

The Army National Guard furnishes FORSCOM with eight combat divisions plus 32 separate brigades alongside extensive support units totaling around 350,000 Soldiers. Upon federal activation, these forces raise FORSCOM’s total strength to nearly two-thirds of the Army’s ground combat forces.

U.S. Army Reserve Command

The U.S. Army Reserve Command (USARC) is responsible for supervising nearly 191,000 Army Reserve personnel alongside approximately 10,000 civilian employees from the Department of the Army. It exercises authority over all conventional Army Reserve units within the continental United States and Puerto Rico, concentrating on combat support and service support roles such as medical services, legal affairs, civil affairs, chemical defense, transportation, engineering, and military police operations.

Formed in October 1990 as a subordinate command under U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM), USARC relocated its headquarters to Fort McPherson in 1998 and began reporting directly to the Department of the Army starting in 2007. The command’s headquarters staff comprises around 900 civilians, contractors, and Soldiers.

USARC delivers command, control, and logistical support to more than 2,000 Troop Program Units, ensuring these forces maintain readiness for mobilization in joint combat operations and other missions beyond traditional warfare. Since the events of September 11, it has activated roughly 185,000 Soldiers who have supported counterterrorism efforts globally, including deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, the Balkans, and Africa.

The Chief of Army Reserve also serves as the commander of USARC. From 2003 onward, the command has shifted its focus from a primarily strategic posture to an operational force by functionally aligning its units to improve deployability and responsiveness. This transformation aligns with BRAC directives and broader Army modernization initiatives. Within the United States, USARC contributes to homeland security by supporting antiterrorism activities and assisting federal agencies during emergencies while emphasizing training, readiness, and rapid mobilization.

U.S. Army Central

U.S. Army Central (USARCENT) fulfills the mission of supporting U.S. Central Command’s objectives across unstable regions that include parts of the Middle East as well as South and Central Asia. With CENTCOM’s area of responsibility expanding in 1998 to encompass five Central Asian nations, USARCENT’s operational scope has grown accordingly.

As the Army component of CENTCOM, USARCENT functions as a fully deployable command and control headquarters capable of leading joint task forces or coalition ground operations. During wartime scenarios, it transforms into the Coalition Forces Land Component Command (CFLCC), overseeing all ground force activities within its theater.

Tracing its origins to the establishment of the Third Army in 1918, USARCENT has been instrumental in major conflicts such as World War I and II, the Persian Gulf War, and ongoing campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. It maintains an adaptable force structure that integrates active duty and reserve units from across the nation to customize deployments throughout the year in support of national defense priorities.

Under General George S. Patton Jr., the Third Army conducted eight significant campaigns across Europe during World War II. Reactivated at Fort McPherson in 1982, it deployed to Saudi Arabia in 1990 where it commanded a coalition force exceeding 338,000 troops during the Gulf War—managing deployment logistics, defensive planning, offensive operations, and post-conflict humanitarian efforts in Kuwait and southern Iraq.

USARCENT regularly participates in joint military exercises including "Intrinsic Action" held in Kuwait and "Bright Star" conducted in Egypt while also overseeing pre-positioned equipment programs designed for swift crisis response. Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, it prepared for operations such as the Afghanistan invasion and played a pivotal role during the 2003 Iraq invasion along with subsequent operations there.

Army Ground Forces Band

Originating in Texas in 1845 as the 4th Infantry Regiment Band, the 214th Army Band, later designated The Army Ground Forces Band, boasts a rich legacy. This unit earned 26 campaign streamers and received two French Croix de Guerre honors, reflecting its involvement from the Mexican War through both World Wars.

During the Battle of Monterrey, the band notably seized enemy artillery pieces and repurposed them against opposing troops. President Zachary Taylor uniquely authorized the band members to adorn their uniforms with red piping, marking a rare combat distinction for an Army band.

The ensemble accompanied the 3rd Infantry Division at the Second Battle of the Marne in 1918 and took part in the Aleutian Islands Campaign during World War II. Following the war, it was redesignated as the 214th Army Band and was stationed at several military installations including Fort Lewis, Fort Hood, Fort Meade, Fort Richardson, Fort McPherson, and Fort Bragg. In 1973, it became the official band of Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort McPherson. The title "The Army Ground Forces Band" was conferred by Secretary of the Army John O. Marsh Jr. in 1985. The unit was deactivated in 2016.

As an element of U.S. Army Forces Command—which oversees combat readiness of both active and reserve units—the band functioned as the "Musical Ambassador of the American Combat Soldier." Its responsibilities included providing musical support for military ceremonies, state functions, recruitment events, and civilian occasions at local, national, and international venues. The band comprised a variety of ensembles such as marching and concert bands, jazz groups like the Jazz Guardians, Dixieland bands, a rock group known as "The Loose Cannons," along with numerous ceremonial units.

First Army

First Army stands as the senior military command located at Fort Gillem and is one of two Continental United States Armies under U.S. Army Forces Command jurisdiction. Its personnel consist of Active Duty Soldiers alongside members from the National Guard, Reserves, and civilian workforce, totaling more than 10,000 individuals from Active and Reserve Components.

Its area of responsibility spans 27 states east of the Mississippi River—including Minnesota—as well as Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington D.C., providing support to over 350,000 Reserve Component Soldiers.

First Army’s primary mission centers on training facilitation and readiness enhancement for Reserve Components (RC), mobilization oversight, and homeland defense operations. The command bolsters RC combat preparedness through observer/controller trainers and direct interaction with units to ready them for a spectrum of military engagements.

It orchestrates mobilization and deployment plans for RC units to supply combat-ready forces to combatant commanders. Since 2001, First Army has activated more than 110,000 National Guard and Reserve personnel for Operations Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle, and Iraqi Freedom.

In its homeland defense role, First Army serves as a regional Department of Defense planning agent assisting civil authorities during natural disasters or manmade emergencies—partnering with FEMA and various federal agencies to provide aid to American communities during crises.

Beyond these core duties, First Army administers the Civilian Aides to the Secretary of the Army program and offers support for the National Boy Scout Jamboree.

The command supervises three reserve training support divisions: the 85th Division based in Arlington Heights, Illinois; the 78th Division headquartered in Edison, New Jersey; and the 87th Division located in Birmingham, Alabama—each advancing First Army’s training and mobilization objectives.

First activated in France on August 10, 1918 under General John J. Pershing as America’s inaugural numbered army, First Army directed key World War I campaigns such as reducing the St. Mihiel Salient and executing the Meuse-Argonne offensive. Following brief postwar occupation duties it was deactivated in 1919 before being reactivated in 1933 at Fort Jay.

On D-Day—June 6, 1944—under General Omar N. Bradley’s leadership, First Army forces landed on Omaha and Utah beaches during the Normandy invasion. It achieved several historic firsts during World War II: initial landing at Normandy; first breakout; first entry into Paris; earliest breach of the Siegfried Line; first Rhine River crossing; and initial link-up with Soviet troops.

After World War II, its headquarters relocated to Governors Island until January 1966 when First and Second Armies combined operations at Fort Meade. In 1973 First Army shifted focus solely to reserve component readiness. Subsequent reorganizations in 1983 and again in 1995 merged its responsibilities with Second Army at Fort Gillem—its present-day headquarters—broadening its regional authority over reserve forces across numerous states and territories.

52nd Ordnance Group (EOD)

The 52nd Ordnance Group (EOD) specializes in force protection missions aimed at rendering safe conventional and unconventional threats—including nuclear, biological, chemical, and improvised explosive devices—as well as terrorist ordnance within its designated operational zones. It exercises command and control over as many as six ordnance battalions deployed in theater to support the objectives of the theater commander.

Stationed at Fort Gillem, the group headquarters supervises four battalion commands and 39 companies throughout the United States. Additionally, it administers the U.S. Army Very Important Persons Protective Service Agency, coordinating Explosive Ordnance Disposal support for both the U.S. Secret Service and the Department of State.

Military Entrance Processing Station

The Atlanta Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) is one element within a network of 65 MEPS facilities nationwide, managed by the United States Military Entrance Processing Command (USMEPCOM). This joint Department of Defense agency includes personnel from all military branches and reports to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy.

At Atlanta MEPS, candidates undergo aptitude assessments, medical examinations, and background checks aligned with DoD criteria to qualify for military enlistment. In fiscal year 2007 alone, close to 7,000 applicants from the Atlanta region met enlistment standards and subsequently received specialized training that enhances their skill sets for future civilian employment.

The facility, purpose-built at a cost of $3.7 million specifically for MEPS functions, began operations in August 1999. Staff members typically serve three-year assignments focused on recruitment processing and related support activities.

Atlanta MEPS covers a service area encompassing 95 Georgia counties, including outreach to 316 high schools. It also operates five strategically placed Military Examination Test (MET) centers located in Athens, Columbus, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Macon, and Robins Air Force Base. These MET sites facilitate local aptitude testing to minimize travel requirements for prospective recruits.

Operating expenses for Atlanta MEPS surpassed $4 million during fiscal year 2007, significantly contributing to the regional economy through contracts and service procurements.

Headquarters, 3d Military Police Group (CID)

Based at Fort Gillem, the 3d Military Police Group (Criminal Investigation Division) (3d MP Group (CID)) functions as a tactical command headquarters providing extensive criminal investigative support to commanders, military installations, and Army interests across 28 states east of the Mississippi River, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean region. The group also extends support to all Army operations within the United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) area of responsibility.

USCENTCOM's jurisdiction spans 25 nations across Southwest Asia—including regions such as the Northern Red Sea area, South and Central Asia, Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, and the Horn of Africa. Within this theater, the group conducts felony criminal investigations, ensures logistical security, performs criminal intelligence analysis, provides personal protection for Department of Defense officials and foreign dignitaries, enforces force protection measures, and safeguards vital resources during peacetime, combat engagements, and contingency operations. Collaborative efforts include partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies utilizing advanced investigative technology and methodologies.

The organizational structure of the 3d MP Group (CID) includes a command element alongside seven staff divisions: personnel and administration; operations; logistics; resource management; staff judge advocate; information management; and Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment.

Command authority extends over 35 subordinate units that support prominent Army formations such as the XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, 101st Air Assault Division at Fort Campbell, Third Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, and Third Army (ARCENT). The group also provides services to major commands including Department of the Army headquarters, U.S. Army Forces Command, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM), U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM), Joint Forces Command (JFCOM), and Special Operations Command (SOCOM).

U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory

The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory (USACIL) provides forensic laboratory support to Department of Defense investigative agencies as well as other federal law enforcement organizations.

USACIL administers an Army training school for forensic examiners and oversees the Criminal Investigation Command’s criminalistics program. Recognized as the DoD’s most extensive forensic facility, it supports defense-related criminal investigations worldwide with expertise spanning numerous forensic fields. USACIL’s specialists perform analyses within laboratory settings, directly at crime scenes, or while deployed in combat zones. These experts regularly offer testimony as witnesses in criminal cases on an international scale.

From 2007 through 2011, USACIL underwent examination due to concerns about staff misconduct and accusations of investigative shortcomings.

Southeastern Army Reserve Intelligence Support Center

Located at Fort Gillem, the Southeastern Army Reserve Intelligence Support Center—also known as the Language Lab—provides combat-oriented intelligence instruction aimed at strengthening technical intelligence capabilities and preparedness among reserve components. It assists multi-service reserve intelligence personnel in fulfilling the requirements of warfighters and national intelligence organizations.

United States Army 2nd Recruiting Brigade

Based at Fort Gillem, the U.S. Army 2nd Recruiting Brigade supervises nine recruiting battalions distributed throughout the southeastern United States, including Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The brigade headquarters is responsible for command functions, administrative oversight, operational management, budgeting, logistics coordination, advertising efforts, and public affairs activities supporting its battalions.

Atlanta Distribution Center – Army and Air Force Exchange Service

The Atlanta Distribution Center (ADC) of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service handles the receipt, storage, and distribution of retail goods, cost merchandise, food products, and specialty items such as music, videos, jewelry, military apparel, catalogs, books, and magazines to customers across the Southeastern United States and globally. In 1999, the ADC expanded by adding a 420,000-square-foot facility adjacent to four existing buildings each measuring 120,000 square feet at Fort Gillem, creating one of the most advanced distribution centers within its sector.

U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine

The U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine (USACHPPM) leads global initiatives in health promotion and preventive medicine to protect the health and operational readiness of Army personnel. Tracing its origins back to the World War II-era Army Industrial Hygiene Laboratory, USACHPPM employs more than 1,000 experts across various disciplines including epidemiology, toxicology, industrial hygiene, and environmental health sciences.

Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland, USACHPPM operates five regional commands located at Fort George G. Meade; Fort Lewis; Landstuhl in Germany; Camp Zama in Japan; and Fort McPherson in Georgia. The USACHPPM-South division at Fort McPherson delivers preventive medicine services throughout the southeastern United States via specialized units focused on entomology, field preventive medicine, industrial hygiene, quality management support, and environmental health engineering.

Scheduled for relocation by September 30, 2009, USACHPPM-South will move to Fort Sam Houston in Texas to continue providing advanced public health support to Department of Defense organizations within the region.

Origins

Situated approximately four miles (6 km) southwest of Atlanta's city center, Fort McPherson's military history dates back to 1867. The initial installation was located on grounds now home to Spelman College. From 1867 until 1881, units from the 2nd, 16th, and 18th U.S. Infantry Regiments, along with the 5th Artillery, were stationed there to uphold Union mandates during the Reconstruction era.

In October 1881, Secretary of War Robert T. Lincoln directed that the lease be terminated and the buildings auctioned off. By December 8, 1881, U.S. forces had departed McPherson Barracks. A portion of the property was purchased by the American Baptist Missionary Society, which established what became Spelman College, yielding $17,264.40 for the federal Treasury. On March 3, 1885, Congress approved $15,000 for acquiring land and constructing a post capable of housing 10 companies. Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock supervised the selection of five parcels totaling in September 1885. Capt. Joshua W. Jacobs was responsible for creating the initial master plan.

Maj. Gen. John A. Schofield proposed naming the new installation in honor of Maj. Gen. James Birdseye McPherson, a Civil War commander of the Union Army of the Tennessee who was killed during the Battle of Atlanta in 1864—the highest-ranking U.S. officer to die in combat to that point. In 1888, U.S. Army Engineers erected a monument to McPherson in East Atlanta; this memorial is currently maintained by the Sons of Union Veterans of the American Civil War.

During the Spanish–American War, Fort McPherson operated as both a general hospital and a training facility for nearly 20,000 recruits. Due to overcrowding in barracks, temporary tents were erected, and by July 1898, it also served as a detention center holding 16 Spanish prisoners in what is now known as the Post Chapel.

World War I

Throughout World War I, Fort McPherson functioned as an internment camp for German prisoners of war, a base hospital designated General Hospital No. 6, and an officers' training facility.

By July 1918, a prisoner barracks on the western side of the post accommodated up to 1,411 German POWs. The permanent barracks had been converted into a general hospital with nearly 2,400 beds by June 1917. Between August 1917 and December 1918, more than 10,000 patients received treatment there.

Fort McPherson served as headquarters for the IV Corps Area during two periods: 1920–1923 and 1927–1934. In the 1930s, its hospital expanded into a rehabilitation center while also serving as headquarters for District B of the Civilian Conservation Corps.

World War II

Following enactment of the Selective Service Act in 1940 and America's entry into World War II, Fort McPherson significantly increased its operations. It acted as a general depot, reception center processing thousands of new recruits, and a principal hospital complex.

As World War II concluded in August 1945, Fort McPherson transitioned into a separation center responsible for processing nearly 200,000 servicemen for discharge or reassignment.

Historic buildings

The historic area encompasses 40 structures recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. Notable edifices include:

Hodges Hall

Constructed in 1904 at a cost of $55,000, Hodges Hall (Building 65) was originally designed as a double barracks featuring a unique horseshoe layout. It currently functions as the post headquarters and is named in honor of Gen. Courtney Hodges, who led the Third and First United States Armies during World War II. The building now accommodates garrison command offices.

Troop Row

Troop Row, initiated in 1889 with Building 56 at its eastern extremity, primarily consists of double barracks, except for Building 60 which is a triple barracks. Each structure averaged $26,000 to build. These barracks were replaced by the Audie Murphy Barracks Complex in 1998 and have since been repurposed into office facilities.

Post Chapel

Originally serving as the post guardhouse from 1886 to 1889, the chapel (Building 42) held 16 prisoners of war during the Spanish–American War. In 1921, it was transformed into a chapel with the addition of pews, eleven stained-glass windows, and four stained-glass transoms.

Hospital

General Hospital No. 6 (Buildings 170 and 171), erected between 1886 and 1889 for $11,414, played a vital role during World War I, with the senior medical officer also commanding the post. Over 10,000 Soldiers were admitted from August 1917 through December 1918. Adjacent buildings such as Troop Row served as hospital wards during both world wars. In 1977, the facility transitioned to a clinic with much of its space allocated for administrative use. The Lawrence Joel United States Army Health and Dental Clinic opened in Building 125 in January 1998. Presently, Buildings 170 and 171 accommodate the Installation Management Command, Southeast Region headquarters.

Public safety

Constructed in 1898, 1893, and 1889 respectively, Buildings 100, 101, and 102 originally functioned as commissary and quartermaster storehouses (Buildings 100 and 101) and as the post bakery with two ovens (Building 102). Bread rationing once involved tokens redeemable for loaves. Today, these buildings serve as offices for the Office of Public Safety, including personnel from the Chief’s office and Directorate of Emergency Services.

Chapel Center

Built in 1893 at a cost of $13,000, Building 51 initially operated as the guardhouse and post prison containing cells and cages for detainees. It was converted into the Central Telephone Exchange in 1949. Currently, it houses the post chaplain and associated staff.

Print Plant

Originally constructed in 1918 as a firehouse (Building 50) capable of housing one truck and seven beds, this brick structure still displays its former vehicle entrance beneath a small portico. It was converted into a post office in 1941 and remained so until December 2002.

Recreation Center

Erected by the Red Cross in 1918 as a convalescent center shaped like a Maltese cross (Building 46), it was repurposed into an Army service club in 1919. Today, it functions as office space and provides meeting rooms.

Pershing Hall

Completed in 1904, Building 16 serves as bachelor officers’ quarters. Named after General John "Blackjack" Pershing—commander of the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I and later Army chief of staff—the building is incorporated into Staff Row’s numbering system despite no actual number 16 existing there.

Van Horn Hall

Constructed in 1889 as the initial post headquarters, this two-level building (Building 41) accommodated offices for the commander, adjutant, sergeant major, clerical staff, library, mail services, and a court martial chamber. In 1891, the post authorized its first telephone line rental to Atlanta at a monthly rate of $12.50. By 1893, an expenditure of $17 facilitated the installation of electric bells and wiring, establishing the post’s inaugural "intercom" system. The building was named in honor of Brig. Gen. Robert O. Van Horn, who served as commander from 1934 to 1940—the longest command period in the post’s history—and was repurposed in 1957 to serve as office space for the staff judge advocate.

Staff Row

Comprising 19 officer residences—four single-family homes and fifteen duplexes—Staff Row was constructed between 1891 and 1910 at an average cost of $15,000 per unit. Intended for officers of the artillery regiment, the housing accommodated ranks ranging from colonel down to second lieutenant. The final home built in 1910 currently functions as the post commander's residence; additionally, Quarters 18 is a single-family dwelling due to constraints posed by its lot size.

Hedekin Field

Situated opposite Staff Row, Hedekin Field was originally designated as a polo ground named after Capt. David Drew Hedekin, who commanded Headquarters Company between 1936 and 1938 and died from injuries sustained during a polo match at Fort Oglethorpe. A memorial dedicated to him stands near Quarters 10. Presently, Hedekin Field serves as a venue for parades, retirement ceremonies, and various special occasions.

Quarters 10

As the centerpiece of Staff Row, Quarters 10 was completed in 1892 featuring tall ceilings and unique semicircular turret windows. In 1925, Gen. Douglas MacArthur briefly commanded Fort McPherson but chose not to reside here due to his wife's preferences. A sleeping porch was added in 1935 to accommodate President Franklin D. Roosevelt during his visits en route to Warm Springs, Georgia.

Other structures

During World War I, German prisoners of war were temporarily detained on Troop Row; by June 1917 they had constructed prison barracks west of the post near Campbellton Road and Venetian Drive. By June 1919, Fort McPherson held approximately 1,346 prisoners. After removal of these barracks, many nearby residences were built atop the remaining concrete slab foundations.

The oldest building still occupied is Quarters 532 on Miller Drive, erected in 1887 for $2,470 as housing for the civilian post engineer responsible for overseeing the water pump station. Chief Warrant Officer Ulie H. Jeffers lived there continuously from 1923 until 1950—a record duration for Army quarters occupancy. Subsequent occupants included Captain Steven S. Walsky of the Intelligence Support Element and Chief Warrant Officer Clyde Green, noted as the last Vietnam War draftee on active duty until his retirement in 2010.

Headwaters of Utoy Creek

South Utoy Creek originates from natural springs and flows northwestward into the Chattahoochee River.

External links