The ceremonial closing of Fort Douglas was marked on Aug. 8 by the U.S. Army Reserve, Utah National Guard, elected officials, and University of Utah leaders. The event served as a coda to 164 years of history for the installation in Salt Lake City.
With the fort's closure, the remaining Utah National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve soldiers training in the Salt Lake City foothills have moved to a new $127 million, 227,000-square-foot Army Reserve Center at Camp Williams in Bluffdale. The last active 50 acres of the Stephen A. Douglas Army Reserve Center will transfer to the University of Utah.
During the ceremony, an exchange of gifts occurred, including a carved wooden key, a clay roof tile from a historic fort building, and a ceremonially folded flag. University of Utah President Taylor Randall stated that the university understands the responsibility of holding the space that was home to such history and intends to honor that legacy.
The transfer includes the last 50 acres of the Stephen A. Douglas Army Reserve Center. The University of Utah is scheduled to take ownership of the land in October, after which planning will begin. The fort is included in the central College Town Magic neighborhood of the university's new campus master plan.
Historic elements such as Soldier Circle, the limestone stables built in 1886, and red brick buildings Nos. 102 through 108 will be part of the area intended for a new generation.
The history of the site includes Maj. Gen. Michael Kauffman, who served in the 38th Infantry Regiment at Fort Douglas and later led the 268th Infantry Division through campaigns in Tunisia, Sicily, D-Day, and Northern France. He later returned to Salt Lake City and Fort Douglas to join the 96th Infantry. The 96th Infantry Division is linked to the 96th Regional Readiness Command, which was based at Fort Douglas from World War II through Bosnia peacekeeping missions.
