Cantonment Atkinson

Atkinson was a customs post as much as a fort. FortWiki says the garrison's job was to stop smuggling from the Gulf up the Calcasieu River, and the commanding officer also served as customs inspector. Company E of the 7th Infantry founded the post under Captain George Birch, and Company F of the 3rd Infantry relieved it after arriving on November 7, 1831. Company F marched for Fort Jesup on January 2, 1832, and the post was abandoned. It was named for Henry Atkinson. KPLC calls its flag the first officially raised over this part of Louisiana.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu — 1.1 mi
  A 6,000-square-foot museum of southwest Louisiana Carnival with about 275 costume mannequins and 14 animated figures, opened in April 2026.
• Imperial Calcasieu Museum — 1.5 mi
  Lake Charles's history museum, founded by the Junior League in 1963, with parish artifacts, Claire Chennault's uniform and the Sallier Oak.
• Sam Houston Jones State Park — 4.9 mi
  A 1,087-acre park on the West Fork of the Calcasieu with longleaf pine, cypress-tupelo swamp, five trails, cabins and kayak rentals.
• Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point — 9.4 mi
  A free visitor center at the western gateway of Louisiana's only All-American Road, with exhibits on alligators, migrating songbirds and the estuary.

More markers nearby

• Bilbo Cemetery — steps away
• Edward Schowalter, Jr. — steps away
• Jefferson J. DeBlanc — steps away
• Raymond M. Clausen — steps away