Wednesday, April 26, 2023 - 3:47pm
By Alexandra Dedovitch
In the days when Texas travelers needed protection from warring Native American tribes, wagons sought safe passage as they expanded westward, and camels roamed the region as an experiment for military transportation, Texas military forts were a pinnacle of importance for the Texas frontier. Although long deserted from active duty, these 3 famous Texas Forts...
Thursday, April 16, 2020 - 3:00pm
This article originally appeared in the Winter 2013 issue of The Medallion.
By Andy Rhodes, Managing Editor, The Medallion
Standing on a rocky bluff overlooking the panoramic oak-lined brim of the Edwards Plateau, it's easy to imagine Fort McKavett in 1852. The site has changed little in 160 years, but there's something beyond the physical landscape that conjures...
Friday, May 19, 2017 - 8:00am
By Kevin Malcolm, Educator/Curator, Fort McKavett State Historic Site
From 1874–76, the U.S. Army spent $100,000 to construct a military telegraph line that connected all the frontier and border forts in Texas. This work was overseen by 1st Lt. Adolphus W. Greely. On October 19, Forts McKavett, Concho, and Griffin were connected to each other and the Signal Service Headquarters in...
Wednesday, May 3, 2017 - 8:00am
By Kevin Malcolm, Educator/Curator, Fort McKavett State Historic Site
Fort McKavett State Historic Site came to life on March 17–19 with the presence of historical reenactors during the “Imprisoned on the Frontier 1862” reenactment. Participants from five states arrived at the site and immersed themselves into spring 1862 to recreate the historic Confederate Prisoner of War camp. ...
Thursday, July 21, 2016 - 8:00am
By Kevin Malcom, Fort McKavett Educator/Curator
Another year, another West Texas Heritage Days at Fort McKavett.
This year’s event was again a smashing success, with a new date that worked well for many reenactors. The parade field at Fort McKavett State Historic Site was alive with historic reenactors who set up various displays about life and soldiering on the Texas frontier...
Thursday, January 14, 2016 - 8:54am
By Kevin R. Malcolm, Fort McKavett Site Interpreter
The staff of Fort McKavett State Historic Site got a chance to get in the holiday spirit on December 19 by recreating the Christmas traditions of the 19th-century frontier. The event, entitled “Bullets and Baubles,” was a great success with a good turnout of volunteers and visitors all keen to enjoy the holiday spirit of time...
Monday, August 17, 2015 - 8:00am
By Kevin R. Malcolm, Fort McKavett Curator
This summer, Fort McKavett was full of bustle as it played host to the 9th Annual Old Stories, New Voices Intercultural Youth Camp, sponsored by the Texas State Historical Association.
This year, campers between the ages of 10 and 12 were in attendance from the Dallas, Austin, and Stephenville areas. The campers were organized into...
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 - 8:00am
By Kevin R. Malcolm, Fort McKavett Curator
Fort McKavett State Historic Site has been a veritable 19th century workshop during the last few months. In partnership with volunteers from around the state, the staff of Fort McKavett has hosted two different historical trades programs in and around the buildings of the historic frontier post.
On June 6, the fort was once again...
Friday, January 9, 2015 - 9:40am
By Cody Mobley, Fort McKavett Staff
For one weekend in December, Fort McKavett State Historic Site was transformed into a military garrison circa 1852. Members of the Co. H, 8th US Infantry living history group reenacted the lives of the soldiers stationed at Fort McKavett during December 1852. From reveille until tattoo, the participants carried out all tasks of the period just as the...
Thursday, July 3, 2014 - 8:00am
By Cody Mobley, Fort McKavett Staff
Fort McKavett State Historic Site is currently presenting monthly programs that cover all aspects of the fort’s history. The most recent program, “Hard Work and Hand Tools: The Construction of Fort McKavett,” focused on the methods that soldiers used when constructing elements of the buildings in 1852.
Many visitors came out to participate in...
