Visiting Author – Jeff Barnes – Forts of the Northern Plains: A Guide to Military and Civilian Posts of the Plains Indian Wars

Join us in welcoming Great Plains historian and author Jeff Barnes to F&F Bookshop on Wednesday, September 18th at 5:30! He will be signing copies of his book Forts of the Northern Plains: A Guide to Military and Civilian Posts of the Plains Indian Wars. This new edition now features more than 150 military and civilian sites, directions, and GPS coordinates, with full-color photography and maps, and aerial shots of select sites.

To order your copy, follow the link HERE!

About the Book:
As the first official symbols of U.S. government presence on the western frontier, the forts of the northern plains were both centers of commerce and sources of conflict. The integral roles these forts played during decades of warfare with the Plains Indian tribes—and the fate of the posts after those wars ended—were essential to the expansion of the American West during this traumatic period of history.

In Forts of the Northern Plains Jeff Barnes presents an informative guidebook to the forts of the Indian campaigns of the late nineteenth century. Focusing on sites in Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming, Barnes includes the forts’ histories, descriptions of what remains today, directions, nearby points of interest, and visitor information for each post. This new expanded edition adds a number of federal sites designated as camps and posts, as well as civilian and militia sites that are marked. With new entries, color photographs, and updated information on the forts, as well as a rating system for traveler interests, Barnes provides an up-to-date guide of the historic military posts of the Indian Wars.

About the Author:
Jeff is a fifth-generation Nebraskan and long-time student and writer of Great Plains history. A former newspaper reporter and editor, he is the author of eight books on Great Plains subjects, including two winners of the Nebraska Book Award. He is also among the most frequently requested speakers of Humanities Nebraska, the largest speaker organization in the state, and is the first and only HN speaker to present in all 93 Nebraska counties. Since beginning as a public speaker in 2008, Jeff has made more than 800 appearances for groups in ten states. He is a past trustee of the Nebraska State Historical Society, a present trustee of the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation, past chair of the Nebraska Hall of Fame Commission, and former marketing director of the Durham Museum.

Praise for the book:
“Barnes has produced a valuable combination of history and travel guide for all students of the Northern Plains Indian Wars. A very timely, very impressive work.”—Robert M. Utley, author of The Last Sovereigns: Sitting Bull and the Resistance of the Free Lakotas

“Well written and researched, [Forts of the Northern Plains] offers a handy, carefully organized summary of many important military sites in the West.”—Barton H. Barbour, Great Plains Quarterly

“A much-needed, up-to-date guide to the critical forts of the Indian campaigns of the late nineteenth century. This book should be on the shelves of everyone with an interest in the West during this traumatic period of American history.”—Jerome A. Greene, author of Nez Perce Summer, 1877: The U.S. Army and the Nee-Me-Poo Crisis