World War I

Camp Funston

Fort Riley, Riley Co., Kansas


Camp Funston, with a capacity for some 43,000 soldiers, was established in July 1917. It was used as a temporary training cantonment within the permanent U. S. Army post, Fort Riley, for the 89th Infantry Division (National Army). The 89th was comprised of selective service inductees primarily from Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska; but also had numbers in the thousands from several other states.

The outbreak of the Spanish Influenza Epidemic (1918-1920) was traced back to Camp Funston, and the camp was hit particularly hard by the epidemic.

After the Armistice it was designated as a demobilization center. Camp Funston was finally dismantled in 1924, with a few remnants of foundation and a stone obelisk to commemorate the Great War remaining on Fort Riley today.

Postcards

  • A panoramic photo of Camp Funston during World War I (left side)
  • A panoramic photo of Camp Funston during World War I (right side)
  • "Interior of Mess Hall. Camp Funston, Kansas" World War I
  • "Camp Funston" World War I
  • "Receiving Station, Camp Funston, Ft. Riley, Kans." World War I
  • "General View of Camp Funston, Ft. Riley, Kans." World War I

Photos

Further Reading & Resources

The U. S. Army Center of Military History

The Kansas Historical Society

Various blog posts of interest by Kansas WWI Centennial Committee

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