Fort Higley was built during the American Civil War. During the Union occupation of Knoxville in the early 1860's, General Ambrose Burnside had his Chier Engineer Captain Orlando Poe design a series of earthwork forts to defend the south side of Knoxville from attack from Confederate forces. The earthworks of Fort Higley have remained virtually intact for over 150 years.
The city of Knoxville has turned the site into a city park and will eventually have a greenway that will link Fort Higley with the other forts along the high grounds of South Knoxville. The geocache will be a very short walk from the parking lot.