United States Department of Interior / Bureau of Indian Affairs  / Office of Indian Education Programs / Eastern Navajo Agency
" Shush Bito"   Ft. Wingate, New Mexico 87316    "Success For All"
 
 

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF FORT WINGATE

1846-Treaty of Bear Spring signed by Narbona, Zarcillas Largo, Sandoval and other Navajo Chiefs and Colonel Alexander Doniphon of Third Missouri Volunteers of the U.S. Army.

1860-In the spring of the year at Bear Spring a temporary post, Fort Fauntleroy, was established. Later it was renamed Fort Lyon, when General Thomas T. Fauntleroy, for whom the Fort was originally named, joined the Confederates.

1862-The post was abandoned at the time of the Texan invasion of the territory.

1863-Used as an expression during the Navajo War.

1868-The post was reoccupied by troops accompanying the Navajo Indians, when they were moved from the Reservation of Fort Sherman, New Mexico. The post was renamed Fort Wingate after the abandonment of an army post of that name located near the site of San Rafael, New Mexico. It served as the Agency for the Navajos returning from Fort Sumner for a short time until the Agency was moved to Fort Defiance.

1882-From this year and years following Fort Wingate was used at the headquarters and outfitting post for ethnological and archeological expeditions.

1886-General Douglas MacArthur, during his early childhood, was at Fort Wingate where his father was stationed.

1910-1914-Post was abandoned and placed in charge of a caretaker.

1914-The buildings were used temporarily to house 4000 Mexican nationals during the Villa Uprising.

1914-1915-General John J. Pershing used Fort Wingate as a rest post during the Villa Uprising.

1915-1918- The post was abandoned and placed in charge of a caretaker.

1918-Taken over by the Ordnance Department for the storage of high explosives.

1926-Charles H. Burke School was founded by the Office of Indian Affairs at Fort Wingate Vocational High School.

1936-1954-Period of continual improvement in the educational program to meet the needs of the Navajo People and other Native Americans.