Located in Georgia, Fort McPherson is named after Major General James Birdseye McPherson and was officially founded by the US Army in 1885 under the name "McPherson Barracks." The site was used as an army base for at least 50 years prior to that, however. The army base is located on around 500 acres of land. It was known for many years as a perfect blend of old and new. Over time Fort McPherson was used as a training facility, a place to house POWs, to treat the wounded, and many other tasks. While it has a rich and prestigious history, like Fort Gillem, it was slated for closure in 2005 and will be closed by 2011.
Toward the end of its life as an army base installation, it was home to Forces Command (FORSCOM), Third United States Army, and United States Army Reserve Command (USARC). Nearby Fort Gillem played a big role in supporting activities at Fort McPherson. Together, they supplied quite a bit of jobs and money to the local economy in Georgia. Many of the buildings (barracks, hospitals, and chapel centers, were built in the late 19th century and kept up over the years.