Standing atop a windswept remote hill, the remains of a 150-year-old West Texas fort beckon curious visitors to the site that is now considered one of the best preserved and most intact examples of a Texas Indian Wars (1850–1875) military post. Take in the spectacular Hill Country vistas and experience the history of early West Texas life through the real stories of the infantrymen, Buffalo Soldiers, women, and children who lived at what Gen. William T. Sherman once described as "the prettiest post in Texas."
Restored structures include the officers’ quarters, barracks, hospital, school house, dead house, sink, and post headquarters. In addition, there are ruins of several buildings, most notably the commanding officer’s quarters, which burned in 1941, and the barracks along the north side of the parade ground, which once was the longest building west of the Mississippi River.
Upcoming Events
June 3
Nighttime Photography
Grab your cameras and come out to see the nighttime sky at McKavett! Please be on site by 4PM to fill out a waiver and familiarize yourselves with the grounds. For more information, contact Rhett Kearns at Rhett.Kearns@thc.texas.gov or at 325-396...
June 17
"By Industry We Thrive!" A 19th-Century Trades Program
Fort McKavett was more than just a military outpost. It was a community of workers, contractors, tradesmen, and businessmen whose talents built and maintained the fort. Come see our volunteers work many unique trade skills that would have helped...
July 8
Quartermaster Workshop: Painted Ground Cloths
Ground cloths were used by military and civilians alike, be it to use as a shelter, cover, or a pad on the ground as its name suggests. Painted cloths are a mixture of oils to make a primitive waterproofing. Participants will need to purchase...
From the Blog
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...
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...
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...
