For Part 2, head south of Highway 20 to the Old Parade Grounds, directly across the highway from the Veterinary Hospital and the Trailside Museum. 

Old Parade Ground
The Fort originated in 1874 out of the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty. The original part of the Fort is on this side of the highway and is often referred to as the old/original parade ground. In military terms it just means a place where troops gather. The oldest original buildings are on the left. Those small white buildings were duplex Officer Quarters built in 1874. At the very end, close to the highway, was a two-story building that was the original hospital operated by Army doctor Walter Reed.

You will also note the large stones as a memorial to Crazy Horse and his followers. These were put in by the Oglala Sioux. They designate the directions North, South, East, West. As you may have already noticed, the Fort doesn’t lay perfectly directional on a map.
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Old Parade Structures
These three rebuilt log structures all have their own unique stories. The first is the 1874 Guardhouse, often referred to as the place where Crazy Horse was stabbed. The second is the Adjutant’s office, referred to as where Crazy Horse passed away. And the third is the 1874 Cavalry Barracks where the Northern Cheyenne were imprisoned. These three buildings have been rebuilt to ensure the stories continue to be told. Construction of the Guardhouse and Adjutants office took place in 1968 and the Barracks in 2003. Log structures actually take some extra care to maintain. They are now preserved with linseed oil, but once upon a time were preserved with Old French fry oil from the restaurant. You can view the exhibits in the buildings when they are open (check with the Fort Robinson History Center or at the information booth for hours).
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Killing of Crazy Horse
This area is one of the more complicated parts of our history. This is the area where Crazy Horse was killed. Crazy Horse was a leader of an Oglala Sioux Nation. Most notably he was known as a warrior who participated in General Custer’s demise in the Battle of Little Bighorn. However, in May of 1877 Crazy Horse and his 900 followers ended up surrendering their firearms and horses to the US government as a gesture to declare they were no longer actively fighting. Stipulations that they would get their weapons back for a summer Buffalo hunt were left unfulfilled. Naturally, Crazy Horse wasn’t happy. In September, it was ordered that Crazy Horse be brought to Fort Robinson. Feeling he had done nothing that warranted being arrested, he resisted as he was being escorted into the Guardhouse where he was bayoneted, piercing a kidney. He died a few hours later under the influence of morphine. His parents were given his remains and his burial spot was kept a secret.
It is recommended to stop by the Post Museum to check out specific books on Crazy Horse or to inquire about summer programming at the guardhouse because there is so much more to the story.

Calvary Barracks/Cheyenne Breakout & Northern Cheyenne
This next building is known as the Cheyenne breakout barracks. It was originally built in 1874 along with the guardhouse. The Barrack’s typically housed 50-60 men. They slept on iron beds and were issued 16 pounds of straw to fill their mattress every month.

Soldiers were required to wash their hands and faces daily, their feet twice a week and bathe once a week. It’s doubtful, however, they carried water from the White River 300 yards away to bathe every week in the winter. Imagine the smell of 60 men…. in wool uniforms in this barracks, with no indoor plumbing access. From October of 1878 to January of 1879 a band of approximately 149 Northern Cheyenne were imprisoned here. They were originally sent from Powder River Country near Montana to an Oklahoma Indian Reservation, and they quickly grew ill as they couldn’t adapt physically to that environment. Under the impression they could always return to their homeland, they left the reservation and headed north to what they thought was still the Red Cloud Agency. Unfortunately, by October of 1878 when they got to Chadron Creek they were captured and they discovered that the agency had moved even further north to what is now known as the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The government absolutely wanted the Cheyenne to go back to Oklahoma; however, the Cheyenne knew if they did so they would perish just like the other 250 did in Oklahoma. While waiting for a decision by the US Government, the Northern Cheyenne were imprisoned in these barracks. While imprisoned, the Army withheld food, water, and heat to force them back to Oklahoma. As they felt they had no other choice but death the Northern Cheyenne decided to fight where they were, so on January 9th they broke out of these barracks around 10 p.m., on one of the coldest nights of record. Many of them ran up into the buttes to the southwest, thus the name of the Cheyenne Buttes. After a two-week pursuit 64 Native Americans lost their lives, along with 11 soldiers. Because of these events, the remaining Northern Cheyenne were allowed their own reservation in Montana.
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Continue clockwise on the road, taking the second left after passing by the first long, metal maintenance shop. 

Bandmaster
The bandmaster was actually the highest paid non-commissioned officer. This would be equivalent to having the music teacher being the highest paid position at a school. The 9th and 10th Cavalry had their regimental headquarters here. One of the biggest recognitions at Fort Robinson was the Tenth Cavalry Band, which was known as the finest musical organization in the United States Army. The bandmaster would have been the conductor or leader of this band. This small rentable cabin is known as the Bandmaster Quarters.
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Pool
Because of many luxurious amenities at Fort Robinson, it was deemed the Country Club of the Army. Along with fancy tennis courts, a gym, theatre, and vast hunting clubs, this 1930s swimming pool was just one more of those amenities.
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Turn right across from the Bandmaster stop. 

Wheelwright
As you’re heading toward the next street, you’ll notice a small, red shop on your left. This building is known as the Wheelwright shop where many wagons were repaired. The building, which houses the “comfortable” 1902 military ambulance, is open to the public (check with the Fort Robinson History Center or at the information booth for hours).
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Continue straight until you come to the intersection with the next street.

War Dogs
This point is the location of the WWII War Dog program. All of the dogs were donated, mostly by local farmers, but there were two large poodles donated by an opera singer in New York. Over 15,000 dogs went through the Fort Robinson program, with a graduation rate of around 33%. It was a way for poorer agricultural families to feel as though they could do a larger part in helping in the war by donating their pets. Anyone could donate a dog as long as it met the following conditions: had to be over 55 lbs, be 21” tall and have all of their teeth. Quickly some dogs were found to be less useful. For example, a Dalmatian was too easily spotted by the enemy on the battlefield, the Great Dane cost too much to feed, and Irish Setter seemed to be untrainable. The preferred breed to work with by the handlers was the Border Collie. Every branch of service used dogs that were trained here. Fort Robinson was the last WWII dog training program in the country. The program was started by Arlene Erlanger, a dog trainer from Boston. The training that was used at Fort Robinson is still implemented today for training of all dogs, including law enforcement dogs and seeing eye dogs. To read more about one specific dog, Major, stop by the Post Museum gift shop.
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From here, you can take a right and view the historical location of the Chicago Northwestern Railroad, which has been converted to a trail leading into the City of Crawford, or you can turn left and visit the Post Playhouse near the intersection of Highway 20. 

Railroad
In 1886, the railroad came directly through here setting up everything the Fort needed. You can still see where the spurs would have been backed up to unload grain here at the Granary. The railroad connected the Fort to everything needed in the outside world. It was still used up until a devastating flood in 1991. A historical marker imparts the importance the railroad played. The tracks have since been removed and now there is a trail from here to Crawford.
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Post Playhouse
Originally constructed in 1892, this building is currently the Post Playhouse, with live theater productions in the summer. If they are not sold out, and they often are, you can purchase tickets online or at the box office. The building was originally the quartermaster store. The quartermaster was actually in charge of a lot of grueling paperwork. EVERYTHING that came into the Fort had to be logged, such as all food and animals. He became so inundated with the work he started burying stuff under the floor of the store. When archeologists started to dig for the remodel of the Playhouse they found many items that are now on display in our Veterinary Hospital.
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