Historic marker at 183rd and Apricot Road across from Grand Mound Cemetery.
Fort Henness was a pioneer blockhouse fort and stockade built in 1855 during the Washington Puget Sound War of 1855-1856, located near what is now Rochester, Washington. The site is currently marked by a historical monument and is a point of local historical interest.
Key Details
- Purpose: The fort was constructed by local settlers for protection and shelter during the conflict with Native Americans. It provided refuge for a total of 227 men, women, and children for about 16 months.
- Name Origin: It was named in honor of Captain Benjamin Lee Henness of the Washington Territorial Volunteers, a local pioneer with a nearby land claim.
- Structure: The original structure was a large stockade featuring two blockhouses.
- Location: The site is on Grand Mound Prairie and most locations in the immediate area have a Rochester address. The historical marker is specifically located at 6625 183rd Ave SW, Rochester, WA 98579, on land donated by the Grand Mound Cemetery Association.
- Current Status: The original fort is no longer standing, but a monument with a diagram and history of the fort was erected by the Washington State Historical Society in 1926 to mark the location. Visitors can view the marker and learn about its historical significance in the region.
For more information on the area’s history, you can visit the Experience Olympia website or the Grand Mound Rochester Chamber of Commerce page.
