Fort Clark.—This post was located on the bluff overlooking the Missouri river, about 40 miles below the mouth of the Kansas, and not far from the present town of Sibley. Lewis and Clark's Journal (Cones' edition) for June 23, 1804, mentions the fact that the expedition was compelled to lie to at a small island during the day, owing to a high wind, and contains this entry: "Directly opposite, on the south, is a high commanding position, more than 70 feet above highwater mark, and overlooking the river, which is here but of little width. This spot has many advantages for a fort and trading house with the Indians."

Gen. William Clark again passed the place in 1808 with a troop of cavalry on his way to make a treaty with the Osage Indians, and on his return selected it as a site for a fort. The bluff became known as "Fort Point," and in Sept., 1808, the government erected there a fort and named it Fort Clark. Biddle says a factory was also erected by the government, but does not tell what was manufactured there. The fort was occupied by a garrison until 1813, after which the Osage Indian agency was maintained there for several years, and the post became known as Fort Osage. Later it took the name of Fort Sibley, for Maj. Sibley, who was the agent of the Osages from 1818 to 1825. The place was permanently abandoned when Fort Leavenworth was founded in 1827.