Fort Missoula was established by the United States Army in 1877 on land that is now part of the city of Missoula, Montana, to protect settlers in Western Montana from possible threats from the native American Indians, such as the Nez Perce. During World War II, Fort Missoula housed a prison camp for Italian POWs, who called the area Bella Vista. The fort was used as a military training center during World War I, but was almost abandoned by 1921. However, it was designated as the Northwest Regional Headquarters for the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933.