Fort Concho National Historic Landmark

About Fort Concho National Historic Landmark

In November 1867 the U.S. Army set up Fort Concho where the North and South Concho Rivers meet, to guard travelers on the frontier and the mail and cattle routes that crossed this part of Texas. A trading town grew up across the river, and that town became San Angelo. Today the fort's limestone buildings sit on their original 40 acres a few minutes from downtown, and the whole site is a National Historic Landmark run by the City of San Angelo.

A base, not a stockade

Fort Concho never had walls. It was built as a cantonment, a place where cavalry and infantry troops lived, trained and rested between long patrols and campaigns across West Texas.

The buildings are made mostly of local limestone set on stone foundations, with wooden porches and gabled roofs. Stone and mortar came from nearby, but the lumber had to be hauled in from the Gulf Coast because the local pecan and mesquite were no good for building.

Buffalo Soldiers and famous commanders

The 4th Cavalry used the fort as its main base from 1867 to 1875, and Col. Ranald S. Mackenzie led campaigns from here in the early 1870s, including the Red River War.

From 1875 to 1882 the fort was home to the 10th Cavalry, one of the all-Black regiments known as the Buffalo Soldiers, under Col. Benjamin Grierson. Infantry units followed until the last garrison lowered the flag and marched out in June 1889.

From Army post to museum

After the Army left, the land was sold off in lots and many buildings became homes or businesses, while others were torn down or reused. Local residents started a museum in 1929, it moved into the headquarters building in 1930, and the city has owned the site since 1935.

The fort has been steadily restored. Its collection now holds about 40,000 items, and roughly 55,000 people visit each year.

Plan your visit

• Start at the visitor center in Barracks 1.
• Don't miss the post hospital, which houses a frontier medicine museum.
• Officers' Quarters buildings hold other exhibits, including a pioneer heritage center and a telephone museum run with Angelo State University.
• The fort's biggest weekend is Christmas at Old Fort Concho, the first full weekend of December.
• Check fortconcho.com for current hours and admission before you go.