Fort Lane or as locals liked to call it “the eye in the sky” is a deserted fort built in the 1850s to help residents of Lawrence see advancing enemies. Unlike other forts built and managed by the U.S defense forces, Fort Lane was built by locals and was in their full control. The fort was abandoned and deserted when the U.S army built a post near the same fort.

Protecting Lawrence

Lawrence community began in the early 1800s as a small free state of fewer than 1000 people. As time went by, the population grew to around 1500 residents who all worked and lived in Lawrence. However, in the 1800s, battles between communities were a common thing and it was up to the community to defend themselves or wait to be flogged to extinction. Centrally located, Lawrence had to deal with attacks from both the north and the south.

Residents came up with the concept of building a lookout tower to help prevent more surprise attacks because it was a difficult condition to be in. The construction of Fort Lane began, and all of the capable people, both men, and women were involved in the operation. The fort was situated at the summit of Mount Oread, providing them with excellent views to the north and south.

Fight to the Death

Even after becoming a state, security was still an issue as major attacks were still seen. In 1963, residents of Lawrence loosened security and they were attacked by the southern states. This attack which claimed more than 100 lives changed the history of Lawrence and the Fort. The fort was destroyed in the crossfires and some were set ablaze.

The US army constructed a garrison on the same mountain a year after the attack to help avoid additional violence between the tribes. The fort remained operational for another two years until being abandoned. Fort Lane was never reoccupied after a piece of the site was taken over by the University of Kansas. On top of Mt. Oread, all of the forts on the mountain, including the posts built by the US troops, were abandoned to rust.

Fort Lane Today

The state of Kansas demolished a part of Fort Lane to make room for other structures on campus. Shortly after that, the rest of the fort's limestone walls collapsed. Concrete remains dominate the previously major fort, which is surrounded by a lush forest. The majority of people are unaware of the fort's specific location, but those who are aware of it and have visited it claim there isn't much to see. The site of the Lawrence village, as well as several adjacent properties, is now designated as a historic district.