Jefferson Barracks History

1803

The Louisiana Purchase opened vast new territories for U.S. settlement, creating both the opportunity and the need for a permanent military presence west of the Mississippi River.

1826

Jefferson Barracks, located approximately 10 miles south of St. Louis, Missouri, was established on July 10, 1826, as the first permanent U.S. military post west of the Mississippi River. Named in honor of President Thomas Jefferson, the post was founded on 1,702 acres acquired from residents of the former French Village of Carondelet (pictured at left)—land purchased for a $5 gold piece. Originally conceived as an Infantry School of Practice, Jefferson Barracks was designed to provide hands-on training that would complement the academic instruction offered at West Point.

1832

Troops from Jefferson Barracks played a significant role in the Black Hawk War—an early conflict aimed at securing the expanding western frontier, particularly in present-day Iowa and northwestern Illinois. In August 1832, Black Hawk, the renowned leader of the Sauk and Fox tribes, was captured along with his followers and imprisoned at Jefferson Barracks. During their confinement, the American writer Washington Irving visited the post to interview Black Hawk. At Black Hawk’s request, he and seven of his men were later granted permission to travel to Washington, D.C., where they met with President Andrew Jackson.

1833

On March 2, 1833, Congress authorized the creation of the U.S. Regiment of Dragoons, headquartered at Jefferson Barracks. This unit, which later evolved into the First U.S. Cavalry, served as a precursor to today’s modern armored military forces. Notable officers in the regiment included its first commander, Henry Dodge, as well as William J. Hardee, Nathaniel Boone (youngest child of Daniel Boone), and Jefferson Davis.

Historian Marc Kollbaum aptly described the Army’s complex mission during this era:
“It was the job of the Army, not only to protect the settlers from the Indians, but also to protect the Indians from the settlers and from each other.”

1840s

By the 1840s, Jefferson Barracks had grown into the largest military post in the United States. Its role had expanded well beyond its original mission, functioning as an ordnance depot, engineer base, cavalry post, general hospital, induction and separation center, and basic training facility.

At one point, its prominence was such that there was serious consideration of relocating the U.S. Military Academy from West Point to Jefferson Barracks—a testament to the post’s national importance.

During this formative period, Jefferson Barracks served as a first post for many future military leaders. Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, Winfield Scott Hancock, Joseph E. Johnston, Braxton Bragg, James Longstreet, and many others received their initial assignments here following graduation from West Point.

In May 1846, following the U.S. declaration of war against Mexico, General Zachary Taylor (pictured at left)—then stationed at Jefferson Barracks and later elected the 12th President of the United States—was given command of troops from the post. These soldiers went on to distinguish themselves through heroic service during the Mexican-American War.

1861–1865 – Civil War Era

During the Civil War, over 100 general officers representing both the Union and Confederacy had served at Jefferson Barracks, among them some of the most prominent names in American military history:

• William T. Sherman

• Ulysses S. Grant

• Robert E. Lee

• Winfield Scott

• James Longstreet

• Braxton Bragg

• Don Carlos Buell

• Winfield Scott Hancock

• Joseph E. Johnston

1898 – Spanish-American War

Jefferson Barracks continued its role as a key staging and training ground during the Spanish-American War.

Due to the war’s brief duration, troop movements and orders shifted frequently. For example, Battery A of the Missouri Volunteers—pictured at left—deployed from Jefferson Barracks to Puerto Rico in July 1898, shortly after the U.S. invasion of the island. By early September, they were ordered to return home and were released from duty following a 60-day furlough at Jefferson Barracks.

1911

Dwight D. Eisenhower—future U.S. President and Supreme Allied Commander in Europe during World War II—began his military journey at Jefferson Barracks. There, he spent his days preparing for and taking the entrance exams for admission to West Point. After successfully passing the exams, he left Jefferson Barracks to begin his training as a new cadet at the U.S. Military Academy.

1916–1917

During the early 20th century, Jefferson Barracks played a key role in the Mexican Punitive Expedition, serving as a staging ground for U.S. forces under the command of native Missourian General John J. “Black Jack” Pershing. The campaign, launched in response to Pancho Villa’s raid on Columbus, New Mexico, marked a rare military incursion across the U.S.-Mexico border in pursuit of the elusive revolutionary leader.

World War I 1917-1918

1946

After World War II, the U.S. government began scaling back its military footprint, and Jefferson Barracks was declared surplus. Following more than a century of federal control, the base was decommissioned, and its key facilities were turned over to the State of Missouri for use by the Missouri National Guard. This transition marked the start of a new role for JB within the Reserve Component of the U.S. military.

2008

A bold new chapter began with the groundbreaking of the $24.8 million Joint Armed Forces Center, now anchoring the southern edge of historic Jefferson Barracks. This modern facility has significantly expanded the operational capacity of the base, ensuring its continued relevance in 21st-century defense strategy. The Center serves as a hub for training, coordination, and community engagement—bringing together functionality for service members, veterans, and civilians. It stands as an enduring symbol of Jefferson Barracks’ evolution: honoring the past, serving the present, and preparing for the future.

Present day

Today, Jefferson Barracks stands as a living tribute to 200 years of American military service. It continues its mission through the Missouri National Guard and Reserve Components, while honoring its legacy through thoughtfully preserved museums, historic buildings, and memorials. With deep roots in the nation’s history and an enduring commitment to service, Jefferson Barracks is more than a military landmark—it is a symbol of dedication, resilience, and remembrance for generations past, present, and future.

1912

Jefferson Barracks reentered the national spotlight in 1912 through a pioneering moment in aviation history. On March 2, Captain Albert Berry (seated at left in the photo) became the first person ever to successfully parachute from a moving airplane, piloted by Antony "Tony" Jannus (seated on the right). Jumping from an altitude of 2,000 feet, Berry deployed a parachute—remarkably, one without a harness—and landed safely on the parade field at Jefferson Barracks.

Interestingly, Colonel Wood, the JB Base Commander at the time, missed the initial jump and asked Berry to repeat the feat. Berry, however, respectfully declined the request.

Following the U.S. declaration of war on Germany on April 6, 1917, Jefferson Barracks was designated as an enlistment and deployment center for recruits from 12 Midwestern states. By December of that year, the base housed more than 12,000 recruits. This rapid influx outpaced available infrastructure, prompting the urgent expansion of post facilities. Construction lagged behind the growing demand, and tent cities sprang up almost overnight across the installation, including one on the Jefferson Barracks parade field (pictured at left). Mess facilities were also expanded, enabling the serving of 5,000 meals in just 20 minutes.

The number of recruits passing through Jefferson Barracks grew steadily throughout 1917, and the post soon ranked among the six largest recruiting centers in the United States. Once new soldiers were registered, equipped, and prepared for transport, they were loaded onto trains at JB—often under the cover of night—and sent to outlying camps for basic and advanced training, or directly deployed overseas. Troop movements occurred in large groups. In the photo at left, soldiers are shown waiting on the hillside above the Jefferson Barracks depot for their turn to board the train to their next destination. By the end of WWI, Jefferson Barracks had contributed an estimated 200,000 men to the war effort.

While at JB awaiting their follow-on assignments, the troops were kept actively engaged. Along with their daily activities such as physical training, the troops also trained in combat strategies and tactics, such as those pictured at left.

World War II 1941-1945

In 1940, Jefferson Barracks had become the first Army Air Corps Replacement and Training base in the U.S. This was in addition to its traditional role as an induction and processing center for recruits from the Eastern half of Missouri. Among these were numerous artists, architects, and designers who were assigned to the new Camouflage School at JB, and later dispersed throughout the Air Corps in connection with camouflage activities.

By 1942 the base saw a spike in enlistments, coming mainly from men formerly employed by the CCC program established during the Great Depression.

On March 3, 1943, the first platoon of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) arrived at Jefferson Barracks. They had completed basic training in Daytona Beach, Florida, and were assigned to JB with the mission “to replace men to fight.” While these “soldiers in skirts” may have initially been met with skepticism, they quickly demonstrated their competence and value. These were not the first women to serve in the U.S. Army, nor even the first in the St. Louis region. As early as 1813, women’s auxiliaries had served at nearby Fort Bellefontaine, performing critical support duties such as polishing cannon, oiling muskets, preparing wadding, and filling powder horns—tasks that enabled more men to engage directly in combat.