Barnhardt Circle in Fort Oglethorpe was once the heart of a US Army cavalry post. When completed in 1904, it was said to be the “Largest and Finest” Cavalry Post in the United States. It consisted of 74 buildings at a cost of $1 million and accommodated 50 commissioned officers, 1,200 enlisted men, and 1,500 horses.

Today, 21 historic original Officers’ Quarters outline Barnhardt Circle. You can experience the history firsthand by walking the paved trail around the circle.

One building to look for is the original bandstand, designed to hold 28 band members. It was lighted with electricity in 1920. Surrounded by an open field that was the post’s parade and polo grounds and by the ball fields of the Fort Oglethorpe Recreation Complex, the bandstand is as much the center of many community events today as it was during the post’s years of operation.

In the center of Barnhardt Circle are the parade grounds, where cavalry units trained, polo matches were competitively played, and the Women’s Army Corps (WACs) trainees marched in support of President Franklin Roosevelt during World War 2. Competitive sports and community gatherings still mark the parade grounds today with ballfields, open-air concerts and markets, and vintage baseball games.

Be sure to stop in the Fort Oglethorpe Welcome Center, located on the parade grounds, and see the historic artifacts and displays that tell the fascinating story of Fort Oglethorpe’s role in American history. Pick up a free copy of the self-guided tour brochure!