Fort Davis was active from 1854 to 1891,
except for the Civil War years. Troops from
the fort scouted and mapped the surround-
ing territory, escorted the mail, protected
stagecoaches and wagon trains, guarded
railroad surveyors, and fought against
raiding Indian bands. When Fort Davis
had "outlived its usefulness" and was
abandoned by the army, it contained over
sixty major adobe or stone buildings.
The historic ruins of Fort Davis were acquired and preserved by the National Park Service beginning in 1961. There has been enough restoration that a visitor receives a vivid impression of what a fort was like. Today, Fort Davis National Historic is regarded as the most outstanding surviving example of a southwestern frontier military post.
The Visitor Center is in a restored barracks
and contains exhibits and a slide program
on the fort's history. A sound representation of an 1875 Dress Retreat Parade
echoes over the parade ground at scheduled times. During summer, park rangers
and volunteers dressed as soldiers, officers'
wives, or servants are stationed at some of
the refurnished buildings to provide
information. Be sure to check in at the
Visitor Center at the beginning of your visit
to learn what programs are available.
The site covers 460 acres and has several
miles of hiking trails. A shaded picnic area
is available year-round.
The elevation of Fort Davis is 4,900 feet.
Summer is hot with occasional showers,
fail is mild, winter is cool and windy, and
strong winds prevail in spring.A RICH HISTORY
After gold was discovered in California in
1848, westward overland travel routes
became important. In West Texas, the San
Antonio--El Paso Road and the Butter-
field Overland Trail passed through terri-
tory used by Apache and Comanche
Indians. To protect travelers and the mail,
the Army built a fort in what were then
called the Apache Mountains, at the mouth
of a pleasant box canyon near Limpia
Creek. The new fort was named Fort
Davis, after Secretary of War Jefferson
Davis, and soon the mountains became
known as the Davis Mountains.VISITOR SERVICES
The site is open 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
from Memorial Day through Labor Day
and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. the rest of
the year. Fort Davis is closed on Christmas.
The entrance fee is $2.00 per person. Individuals 16 or under, educational groups,
and holders of Gold Eagle, Golden Age, or
Golden Access Passports enter free of charge.AREA INFORMATION
There are no overnight accommodations in
the park. Camping is available at the Davis
Mountains State Park, four miles from the
fort. Lodging is available at several motels
in the neighboring town of Fort Davis
(population 1,000), and at Indian Lodge in
the state park. The town has several gas
stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and
gift shops. Nearby attractions include the
McDonald Observatory of the University
of Texas, Davis Mountains State Park, the
Overland Trail Museum, and the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute. Nearby
towns of Alpine and Marfa also have
attractions for visitors to the Big Bend
Country.
| DO . . . -- allow at least one to two hours for your visit. -- bring comfortable walking shoes. -- keep pets on leashes and out of historic buildings. -- walk only on established walkways or trails. |
| . . . AND PLEASE DON'T . . . -- remove anything from the site. -- walk, climb, or sit on any foundation or ruin. -- smoke or have refreshments in historic buindings, or the visitor Center. -- build fires at the picnic area. |
| FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Superintendent (432) 426-3224 |
SOURCE: National Historic Site, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
RETURN TO HISTORIC FRONTIER FORTS
Bennie J. McRae, Jr.
Posted by:
LWF Communications
Trotwood, Ohio
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