The area now known as Fort Lewis was first recognized for its potential as a military reservation in the early 1900s when a series of militia and national guard encampments were held in the area. Camp Lewis was established as the United States entered World War I in 1917 and became the first Army installation in the history of the nation to be created as a direct result of the outright gift of land by private citizens. During World War I, Camp Lewis became the largest military post of the era. Here, thousands of "doughboys" trained for the Great War and began a tradition of training...
The area now known as Fort Lewis was first recognized for its potential as a military reservation in the early 1900s when a series of militia and nati...