Fort Atkinson State Historical Park
Fort Atkinson State Historical Park
Fort Atkinson State Historical Park
4.5
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4.5
32 reviews
Excellent
17
Very good
11
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
2
EC13091
Ellicott City, MD1,774 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
We found the fort interesting to visit, but regretted that they don’t have more interpretive signage. About one weekend a month they have re-enactors present. But if you’re not there on those days, you find most buildings are shut tight, and those that were open didn’t have much in the way of signage. The fort is well re-constructed but it would be nice to have more signage. The people in the visitor center enthusiastically explained the fort before we toured it though, to that was a help. As we are from outside Nebraska, we paid $12 to visit. We had not realized that this fort was so large, at one time home to over 1,000 soldiers.
Written 31 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pridemitch
Papillion, NE34 contributions
May 2014 • Couples
We love stopping and exploring forts, but truly lucked out this weekend by stopping in Fort Atkinson! Living history weekend there, and we got to see volunteers in period costumes, living and working at the fort, explaining what they were doing and how they did it "Back in the Day". Loved seeing the soldiers muster, the women who were weaving and churning butter, the cabinet maker with his antique tools - it was so much fun! Some great trails to hike and see some other hidden gems (cabins and gardens), terrific display at the Visitor Center although there is an admission fee. Kudos to the foundation for recreating such an important part of history - and remember to cover your ears when they fire off the cannon, it is much louder than I expected!
Living history is not every weekend, recommend you check their website for when they have that opportunity: http://www.fortatkinsononline.org/
Living history is not every weekend, recommend you check their website for when they have that opportunity: http://www.fortatkinsononline.org/
Written 1 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mon-ValleyGuy
La Vista, NE529 contributions
Jun 2018 • Family
What a wonderful day, we loved the interaction with all the period dressed in period clothes and uniforms.
Great displays at the council house, the cabin and the bake oven.
The fort was amazing with all the displays of the living quarters, kitchen, surgeon’s rooms and disciplinary barracks.
We thoroughly enjoyed our walk through and time at the State Historical Park.
Great displays at the council house, the cabin and the bake oven.
The fort was amazing with all the displays of the living quarters, kitchen, surgeon’s rooms and disciplinary barracks.
We thoroughly enjoyed our walk through and time at the State Historical Park.
Written 2 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Caron O
Des Moines, IA175 contributions
Aug 2017 • Friends
Admission is $2, but you have to buy a state park pass for each car. The pass is $8 if you don't live in Nebraska. We brought a group of about 20 older couples and if I had known that, I would have made arrangements in advance. The walk from the parking lot to the visitor center is a bit long if you have any mobility or breathing issues. Then, when you get the pass, you are told to put it on your car immediately so you don't get a $75 ticket. That's two trips in and out. You can walk through the prairie to get to some out buildings, but if you aren't there on a Living History Weekend, there isn't much point. For those unable to walk, it's a short drive to the fort buildings. But then you'll need to walk again. There are benches for a rest. The row of buildings closest to the parking lot had some interesting exhibits in rooms, but the other wings of the fort are locked and most of the windows are curtained or boarded, so you can't peek in (although you can see some things through the cracks). The visitor center is small. The 20-minute video is informative, but be very careful on the stairs in the theater. They are a little deceptive and several of our folks tripped.
Written 19 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bestadidas_Traveller
Omaha, NE114 contributions
May 2016 • Family
The fort is small but worth the short drive to go see. I would highly recommend going in reenactment weekends. Take a few dollars for items at the trading post. Reenactors are very knowledgeable and passionate about their craft
Written 1 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dennis B
Eagle, NE252 contributions
May 2014 • Couples
This was the largest fort in the West. It is now mostly rebuilt in it's original form. In the spring and summer they have living historians there depicting life in the fort. This is very educational for adults and children as well. The living history weekends are the first weekend in the month, and occassionlly the weekend is split - Saturday in one month and Sunday of next. You might check their website or call to ensure the weekend is open. The only catch, you have to purchase a Nebraska park permit - - one day 5.00 which is sold on site.
Written 15 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris m
29 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
Boring. A bunch of locked up buildings. Nothing to see. I didn’t think it was very well kept either.
Written 5 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NSouth
Gretna, LA641 contributions
Jan 2022
An excellent illustration of what Lewis and Clark; and the Native Americans experienced during the exploration of the Mid-West area.
Written 9 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kate Illinois1
Illinois5,249 contributions
Sept 2021
The outpost has been reconstructed. It was in operation 1820-1827 to facilitate peaceful relations between traders and the Indian tribes in the region. Everyone involved with the living history were eager to educate and answer questions.
Written 21 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sharon O
Omaha, NE631 contributions
Sept 2019 • Couples
This park is all about the reconstruction of the fort. It was the first Army fort west of the Mississippi. They have done a fabulous job reconstructing the fort. There is even a little store to buy souvenirs and food in. There is a building that holds guest lecturers also. The best time to visit is during living history weekends. Lots of people dressed in time period clothing, and shooting of the canons.
Written 12 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yes you can, but they must be on a 6 foot leash.
Written 27 September 2019
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