Fort Atkinson State Historical Park

An exceptional experience all around! The dedicated, knowledgeable volunteers (only on the first weekend of the month, seasonally, including weekends where one month ends and the next begins (e.g., 31-1) and authentic-looking grounds offer visitors a near-firsthand look at frontier fort life. Parking and access are easy, but shade is scarce except inside the display rooms and under shade trees outside the fort.

5 stars just for historical value.
5 stars for the staff and volunteers.
In its short life (1819-1827) Fort Atkinson played a significant role in American history.
Lewis and Clark wrote about this spot (Council bluffs) and suggested the area where the post was built. The fort was a peaceful fort and ended up being more of a frontier town of 2000+ people during its heyday. The fort has been reconstructed, and there is also a visitor's center that is a great place for families with children to come and visit to learn about early 19th century America on the frontier.
It's also a great place to get away from the city and have a picnic.

This place is truly a hidden gem. If you are interested in some real learning of every type from early 1900s get here! A wonderful day spent around an amazing bunch of volunteers. Dont miss this place!!

We did the 4th of July living history and this place did an amazing job. Absolutely must go here if you love history. It’s on par with colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown in Virginia.

We love coming here. In the 1820's it housed a fourth of all of the States' Army. It's fun to think about what history was like 200 years ago on the frontier. The living history days are the best.

Really nice park with a small museum. Lots of walking, so bring footwear for it.

Beautiful area.

An excellent historical site. The period actors/soldiers were well informed and the staff were very helpful. They have great history of the Territory and the Louisiana purchase...and the United States and Native Americans in particular .

I've been a living history volunteer here for 25 years starting when I was only 8.

The fort provides so many experiences.

It's a scenic 15 minute drive north of Omaha.

The fort is on a large state park grounds with trees surrounding it so it feels like modern civilization disappears and you go back in time.

When there aren't volunteers present, it's a serene walk through open fields with enough to see to make it worth it.

When there are volunteers, there is a lively representation of life at Nebraska's first real presence of Western civilization with canons and soldiers and blacksmiths and a general store and so many other things. The more you interact, the more fun it is.

Great experience and great demonstrations. Loved the military, nurse, weaver, and black smith. Getting better and expanding.

Great experience and fun for my grandson and me. Loved learning about fort and seeing dressed up people.

A place of great historical importance. As far as I understand, Clark (yes, one of Lewis and Clark who started expedition in 1804 to west ward water route from Missouri to Pacific ocean after Louisiana purchase by US from French) mentioned it about the potential of this place in his expedition diary and in 1820 Forth Atkinson was established. This place was actively in use until 1837 when the decline of this place started.

You can see several things here including tools used in surgery those days by surgeons, the kitchen. But most fascinating one is the punishment room. These are not execution room, rather displays several way how the people were punished for small offences. Please see the picture below from the punishment room.

I have volunteered at Fort Atkinson for 13 years now because I love it! I learn so much more about history by doing it! The living history reenactors, all volunteers, are so fun, engaging, and experts in their historical knowledge. Come out and join us! We will help provide outfits if you want to experience history first-hand. Living history weekends are the first weekend every month (or if the 1st day of the month is Sunday, it is that weekend) during the months of May through October. All for the cost of a Nebraska park pass, you will find blacksmiths, tinsmith, cooper, carpenters, military, cooks, lace-maker, spinners, weavers, quilters, surgeon, traders, Indian agent, fur trappers, long hunters, teachers, and sutlers selling 1820s period goods in the Sutler Store! And you can visit the newly remodeled Visitor Center!

It's a neat place to learn about and even experience a piece of American and Nebraska history.

A fun and interesting place to learn about Nebraska history! The museum is full of neat displays and artifacts and the grounds are very well maintained for easy exploring. Can't wait to come back for a Living History weekend and see all of the reenactments!

Definitely worth going on the weekend that they do the living history. Volunteers dress up in historic clothing and show what living at the fort would have been like. So cool to see!

This is an important historical point in Nebraskan and American history. It is a good place to do whatever you want, because there is barley anyone there. Sadly it may be closed due to low attendance.

Great place to explore at your leisure. None of the building's are open due to Covid. But we enjoyed just roaming around the grounds and looking at the way the Fort was laid out.

A great place to enjoy the outdoors and explore history! Make sure to check out the Living History programs, they are fantastic!

We visited during a Living History weekend. Very interesting! All the reenactors were extremely knowledgeable.

Very fun experience at living history weekend. I can't wait to come back and see their night time event!