Originally established with the purchase of 813 acres by the US Government, Fort Oglethorpe also expanded into the territory of the adjacent Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.

The Fort was also a major factor in the development of various forms of the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, or "MASH," and the perfection of many medical techniques used in trench warfare.

The majority of the old post formed the nucleus for the present community of Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia.

[3] Polo and other pursuits were considered by the Army to be an important way for soldiers to maintain their riding skills in the years between World Wars 1 and 2, and the Fort hosted both horse shows and national competitions.

The American comic book artist and writer Marc Swayze was stationed at Fort Oglethorpe at the beginning of World War II.