[3] The fort was formally authorized by an executive order of President William McKinley in December 1898.

United States Army troops had been stationed unofficially in the area during that year.

It was first occupied by three companies of the Third Infantry, previously stationed at Camp Skagway.

[3] Between 1921 and 1925 all other military installations in Alaska were shut down; in 1927 Fort Seward was manned by a force of 255.

The fort was formally deactivated in 1945, and sold to the Port Chilkoot Company.