Fort Lookout, in the northeast corner of Republic County, Kansas, was established by the US Army near the beginning of the American Civil War, in 1861.
Fort Lookout was perched on a high bluff overlooking the Republican River.
[2] During the Civil War many wagon trains used the military road guarded by Fort Lookout.
In 1867 or 1868 the Army abandoned the fort, which was used by the state militia during an Indian uprising in 1868.
Until at least 1870 the local population used the fort as a place of refuge during disturbances with the Indians.