Fort Davis National Historic Site
Today the ghostly sound of hoofbeats and blaring bugles can still be heard at one of the most well preserved "Buffalo Soldier" forts in west Texas.
Named for Secretary of War, Jefferson Davis, the Fort Davis Military Post was established in 1854 in order to protect the mail wagons, pioneers, and those who were headed west in search of gold from the fierce attacks of the Comanche, Apache, and Kiowa tribes.
Located on the eastern side of the Davis Mountains, the fort was in charge of protecting the Trans-Pecos portion of the San Antonio-El Paso road and the Chihuahua Trail.
The Civil War resulted in the evacuation of Fort Davis, and Confederate troops occupied the fort from the spring of 1861 to the summer of 1862 at which time Union troops regained control before once again deserting the fort.
When federal troops returned in 1867, they had to begin construction on new buildings which could house the military troops because most of the original fort buildings no longer remained.
The military troops at Fort Davis after the Civil War were black "Buffalo Soldiers", several being former slaves from plantations in the south.
The fort once again resumed its mission to protect their assigned section of the San Antonio-El Paso road against the Comanche, who were finally conquered in the mid 1870's and the Apache tribe which was eventually driven into Mexico.
The Indian Wars were finally over and in June of 1891, the government determined that Fort Davis had "outlived its usefulness" and the fort was once again abandoned.
In 1961, the fort was deemed a national historic site run by the National Park Service and is considered to be one of the finest remaining examples of frontier forts in the southwest.
Starting at the visitors center, take a tour of the museum, and be sure to watch the quick introductory video on the history of Fort Davis before heading outside to check out the grounds.
The self-guided tour consists of five buildings that have been restored and furnished in the style of the 1880's, several other buildings, and twenty other buildings, as well as one hundred ruins.
If you are visiting during the summer or over spring break, period dressed interpreters are on hand to give you an even greater sense of what life was like on this military post back in the 1800's.
At scheduled times during the day, audio recordings of hoof beats, bugle calls, and the sounds of an 1875 retreat parade will play throughout the fort making your experience here seem even more real.
To get a birds eye view of the fort, there are trails that lead to an overlook of the fort, and these trails also connect with the trails of the Davis Mountains State Park.
Trail maps are available in the visitors center.
Hours: Daily 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Years Day, and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Holiday) Fees: Individual rates: $3 per person ages 16 and older.
Children 15 and younger are allowed in free.
Group rates: $3 per person ages 16 and older.
*The $3 dollar admission is good for the next seven days after purchase.
You can find directions and more info about Fort Davis at http://www.
nps.
gov/foda
Named for Secretary of War, Jefferson Davis, the Fort Davis Military Post was established in 1854 in order to protect the mail wagons, pioneers, and those who were headed west in search of gold from the fierce attacks of the Comanche, Apache, and Kiowa tribes.
Located on the eastern side of the Davis Mountains, the fort was in charge of protecting the Trans-Pecos portion of the San Antonio-El Paso road and the Chihuahua Trail.
The Civil War resulted in the evacuation of Fort Davis, and Confederate troops occupied the fort from the spring of 1861 to the summer of 1862 at which time Union troops regained control before once again deserting the fort.
When federal troops returned in 1867, they had to begin construction on new buildings which could house the military troops because most of the original fort buildings no longer remained.
The military troops at Fort Davis after the Civil War were black "Buffalo Soldiers", several being former slaves from plantations in the south.
The fort once again resumed its mission to protect their assigned section of the San Antonio-El Paso road against the Comanche, who were finally conquered in the mid 1870's and the Apache tribe which was eventually driven into Mexico.
The Indian Wars were finally over and in June of 1891, the government determined that Fort Davis had "outlived its usefulness" and the fort was once again abandoned.
In 1961, the fort was deemed a national historic site run by the National Park Service and is considered to be one of the finest remaining examples of frontier forts in the southwest.
Starting at the visitors center, take a tour of the museum, and be sure to watch the quick introductory video on the history of Fort Davis before heading outside to check out the grounds.
The self-guided tour consists of five buildings that have been restored and furnished in the style of the 1880's, several other buildings, and twenty other buildings, as well as one hundred ruins.
If you are visiting during the summer or over spring break, period dressed interpreters are on hand to give you an even greater sense of what life was like on this military post back in the 1800's.
At scheduled times during the day, audio recordings of hoof beats, bugle calls, and the sounds of an 1875 retreat parade will play throughout the fort making your experience here seem even more real.
To get a birds eye view of the fort, there are trails that lead to an overlook of the fort, and these trails also connect with the trails of the Davis Mountains State Park.
Trail maps are available in the visitors center.
Hours: Daily 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Years Day, and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Holiday) Fees: Individual rates: $3 per person ages 16 and older.
Children 15 and younger are allowed in free.
Group rates: $3 per person ages 16 and older.
*The $3 dollar admission is good for the next seven days after purchase.
You can find directions and more info about Fort Davis at http://www.
nps.
gov/foda