By Anton Schonborn - South Platte River Trail Scenic and Historic Byway website - section for Fort Sedgwick http://www.rivertrailonline.org/byway-map, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69833689
The cache is NOT at the posted coordinates.
Fort Sedgwick, also known as Fort Sedgewick, holds significance in American history as a former military outpost situated in Colorado. Originally established during the mid-19th century as part of the expanding network of forts along the western frontier, Fort Sedgwick played a vital role in protecting settlers, travelers, and trade routes from Native American raids and in asserting federal authority over the region.
The fort's location near the South Platte River made it strategically important for controlling transportation and communication routes in the area. Over time, it served various purposes, including a base for military operations during conflicts with Native American tribes and as a supply depot for settlers moving westward during the period of Western expansion.
Fort Sedgwick witnessed several notable historical events, including skirmishes between the U.S. Army and indigenous peoples, as well as the influx of settlers and traders seeking opportunities in the frontier. Its existence reflected the complex dynamics of westward expansion, marked by both cooperation and conflict between different cultural and ethnic groups.
However, with the gradual settlement of the region and changing military strategies, Fort Sedgwick's importance diminished, leading to its eventual abandonment and subsequent disappearance from the landscape. Today, while the physical remains of the fort may be scarce, its legacy endures as a symbol of America's westward expansion and the challenges encountered along the frontier.
Source: ChatGPT
----- N 44 21.286 W 094 24.246
One of the oldest roads in the state, Fort Road was originally built by the federal government after Fort Ridgely was completed in 1853-54. Supplies were shipped from Fort Snelling to Traverse des Sioux, then transported by wagon to Fort Ridgely.
Nicollet County Road 5 runs more than 42 miles from its eastern terminus at its intersection with US Highway 169 in St Peter to the Renville County line. Old Fort Road presumably extended from Traverse des Sioux, although the portion running through the campus of Gustavus Adolphus College has been blocked off. Fort Road as an address runs from the western edge of St Peter to the end of CR-5.
In an ideal world, a paved trail would have been installed when the road was refurbished in the early 2010s. This planned geocache trail will have to suffice, but won’t alleviate my anxiety when biking here.