The old Fort Stockton in Texas. (original) (raw)

1936 Centennial Marker

Site of Fort Stockton

Established on the Comanche Trail March 23, 1859, as a protection to the San Antonio-San Diego mail route. Named in honor of Commodore Robert Field Stockton, 1795-1866, who captured California for the United States. A stage stand on the San Diego Line, 1858-1861. Evacuated by federal troops during the civil war, reoccupied July, 1867. Permanently abandoned June 30, 1886.

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The Old Bugle in Fort Stockton by Mike Cox

For nearly a century, what remained of old Fort Stockton stood mostly neglected near the now equally defunct Comanche Springs, the once-robust West Texas water hole that had drawn the Army in the first place.

Sure, in 1936 the state had put up an historical marker at the site noting that the post had been established in March 1859 by elements of the 1st and 8th Infantry and named for Mexican War naval hero Commodore Robert Field Stockton, but only the most history-minded folks paid the area any attention.

As time passed, however, civic leaders in Pecos County began to understand the economic value of heritage tourism. In 1981 the City of Fort Stockton began a $1 million project to acquire a portion of the 960-acre tract originally leased to the military, restore the fort�s remaining structures and reconstuct a couple of the barracks. more

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