It is one of 10 driving trail regions which make up the awardwinning texas heritage trails program of the texas historical commission. The task of providing military defense for the texas frontier was never an. In and around the forts and along the route of the texas forts trail, history is abundant and enduring. But to see the real landscape that made texas cowboys and texas rangers famous, youll have to head down to texas historic forts trail. Aston, donathan taylor available from rakuten kobo. New book coincides with 15th anniversary of statewide heritage trails program. The task of providing military defense for the texas frontier was never an easy one because the territory was claimed by some of the. Your guide to texas historic forts trail by peter simek 2. The collection includes archival photographs, a church organ, antique signs, a wooden wagon, farming implements, a comic book collection, and an antique paper doll.
Jim bowie, hero of the alamo william travis, hero of the alamo will goyens, earlyday. Forts of texas this webpage contains a listing and description all all known texas frontierday army posts and encampments. Use of this book is restricted to the unt community. Guardians of a raw young land and focal points of high adventure, the old forts were indispensable in their day of service and it is fitting that they be preserved. Encompassing all 10 texas heritage trail regions, this statewide guide highlights historic destinations that tell the real stories of texas. Minimum of 25 people for tour, dinner, and entertainment. Although a series, each book can be read on its own. After the mexican war, the federal government established these forts to defend the new territory from the comanches, kiowas, apahes, and lipans. Fort concho national historic landmark, san angelo, tx. Travel texas office of the texas governor greg abbott. Abilene boasts a central location just 150 miles west of the dallasfort worth metroplex and is home to 120,000 friendly people. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading along the texas forts trail.
Life in the late 1800s is depicted among its 32 buildings. Mar 24, 2014 the book features eight frontier forts and a spanish presidio in west texas, and celebrates the texas forts trail, one of 10 driving trail regions created in 1968 by the texas highway department. However, its texas forts trail visitor center will remain open and welcomes guests during reduced hours. Texas forts trail is a texas general business filed on november 3, 1998. Texas forts trail 3702 loop 322 abilene, tx federal. The trail is a recommended 650mile driving loop within a 29county region of central west texas. Along the texas forts trail kindle edition by aston, b. His texas frontier university of oklahoma press won the rupert richardson award in 1996 for best book on texas and western history.
The forts of texas include a number of historical and operational military installations. The trail highlights a spanish presidio and eight historic frontier forts and the communities and attractions that surround them. The trail provides a virtual road to eight of the states remarkable frontier forts of west in central texas. The region has been called the gateway to texas, with borders with oklahoma, arkansas and louisiana. Texas forts trail region participant in the texas historical commissions texas heritage trails program. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. This is a historical account, adventure story, and travel guide all in one. All content posted or submitted for posting on this site. Currently president of the east texas historical association, he. Happenings and heritage within the texas forts trail region, a 29county area in central west texas. Texas frontier forts postcivil war texas beyond history texas cattle trails the best and shortest route from texas, kansas pacific railway, 1872 2. Old corn trail comanche tx wagon roads and trails on.
We share the real stories of what was once the texas frontier and offer tips on the fun things to see and do today in central west texas. There are dozens of forts, military installations, and old camps across the lone star state. A travel guide to the texas forts trail, providing historical background on each of the eight forts along the route, and including information for tourists on independent motels, inns, and restaurants, as well as listings of festivals, specialty shops, and other points of interest. When texas seceded from the union at the beginning of the civil war, the new government created a committee of public safety. I decided to create a new series here on texas unknown detailing some of these adventures called the texas forts trail series. The texas forts trail was the first of the ten trails to be reinstated. In the late 1990s, the texas historical commission resurrected the concept as the texas heritage trails program. You dont curl up with this book you get in your car with it and start driving. The texas forts trail highlights the thcs namesake region, one of 10 driving trails created in 1968 by the texas highway department. Start your next adventure with the statewide heritage travel guide, featuring historic destinations in all 10 texas heritage trail regions. Summer 20 texas historical commission s a taste of texas texas forts trail region is the real texas people expect to experience text and photos by andy rhodes the medallion managing editor sitting next to a crackling fireplace in the timberlined dining. Hometown history the dublin historical museum, a collection of dublin memorabilia and history courtesy of the dublin historical society, has a mission to preserve, present, and promote the history of dublin, texas. The drive northwest from dallas grew downright scenic once we reached bridgeport, and soon thereafter began to reveal some of the prettiest texas hill country north of kerrville.
Fifteen years ago, the thc resurrected the concept as the thtp, and the 29county forts trail in west central texas was the first region to be reauthorized. Donathan taylor the task of providing military defense for the texas frontier was never an easy one because the territory was claimed by some of the greatest querrilla fighters of all timesthe comanches, kiowas. Forts trail region travel guides texas forts trail. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Explore west texas forts, visit the homes of american heroes, and experience the storied sites of texas at the texas historical commissions 22 historic sites.
The texas forts trail texas forts trail general store. The companys filing status is listed as active and its file number is 0151190801. Map courtesy dorothy sloanrare books, austin, texas cattle trails texas beyond history texas 1873 railway map library of congress, geography and map division. After the republic of texas was annexed to the united states in late 1845, texans had high hopes that the federal government would do what the impoverished republic had been unable to do. A new regional book imprint of the texas plains trail region. Gordon center for industrial history of texas in thurber on sunday, march 23, at 2. Utahs monument valley, californias mojave desert, and, in spaghetti westerns, even southern italy. Scattered across the texas from the red river to the rio grande, are the remains of a once a formidable military presence on the frontier texas 19thcentury forts. Your guide to texas historic forts trail texas heritage. Texas forts trail the travelers companion visit historic. I found it to be mostly facts about how the cattle drives worked with some information of cowboys and cattle during through a small period of time in tx after the civil war. The texas forts trail caravan is for all true texans.
A taste of texas texas forts trail region is the real texas people expect to experience text and photos by andy rhodes the medallion managing editor sitting next to a crackling fireplace in the timberlined dining room of his legendary steakhouse, tom perini surveys his surroundings and begins smiling. The road was used to move provisions from the main supply depot in san antonio to the forts strung across the west texas frontier. With the arrival of the first spanish conquistadors in the region now known as texas in 1519, it was already populated by numerous native american tribes, whose ancestors had been there for. The texas forts trail contains a brief history, memorable events, and notable figures of each fort. Texas state parks more info from the arid deserts of far west texas to the forests of the piney woods, the more than 90 texas state parks offer a nearly limitless amount of adventure. With driving directions, places to eat and sleep, and points of interest along the way, along the texas forts trail is an indispensable resource for anyone planning on touring one or many of the forts along this historic trail. These texas tourism guides are a must if you want to get the most out of your time in the lone star state. We set out one blustery march morning to trace the northernmost section of the texas forts trail beginning at jacksboro. For over two hundred years, various groups fought over access to or control over the region that is now texas. The texas forts trail caravan is for anyone who enjoys a road trip. Follow the texas forts trail traveler on texas forts trail region. Though the texas forts trail cant possibly cover the more than four dozen old forts and presidios across the vast lone star state, this 650mile scenic byway certainly provides a glimpse into many of these lonely. Possession of the region was claimed and disputed by the european powers of spain and france, and the continental countries of mexico, the united states, the republic of texas, and the confederate.
The book, with text by kristine davis, spotlights the eight frontier. Board motorcoach to return to your abilene accommodations, 90 miles. Fort concho in san angelo, texas by kathy weiseralexander. New book coincides with 15th anniversary of statewide. The paperback of the along the texas forts trail by b. Fort concho national historic landmark home facebook.
These historic locations represent some of the best preserved frontier military posts in the west, reflecting a wide range of displays, terrains and. Abilene, texas a new photography book documents historic military structures in the texas forts trail, the first of 10 regions to be officially designated by the texas historical commissions thc texas heritage trails program thtp. Texas monthly included cashion in a short list of a new breed of scholars who are changing the way contemporary texans look at their state. Belknap is like a walking history book ask him anything about belknap,or texas in general and im sure hell give you some insight.
An interesting read, but a bit less thrilling than i expected and rather tame for a texas book. Arrive at the visitor information center, located inside frontier texas. Texas forts trail region participant in the texas historical commissions. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. The following cities are described in this guide in alphabetical order, and the number below refers to the citys location on the map. The texas forts trail is a new coffee tablesized book featuring the forts and presidios of the texas forts trail. In western movies, the story of the texas frontier is often portrayed against foreign backdrops. All you need is a copy of along texas forts trail, a covered wagon, and a dependable teamuhm, make that a station wagon and a full tank of gas. The texas forts trail is a nonprofit organization chartered in 1999 which promotes heritage tourism, economic development, and historic preservation. More texas history pages sam houston how texas got its name. Texas historical maps perrycastaneda map collection ut. With the arrival of the first spanish conquistadors in the region now known as texas in 1519, it was already populated by numerous native american tribes, whose ancestors had been there for thousands of years.
Enjoy an evening at fort concho, one of the most preserved west texas forts. After the mexican war, the federal government established these forts to defend the new. This book celebrates the texas forts trail, one of the ten driving trail regions created in 1968 by the texas highway department. The texas plains trail region, established in 2003 as a nonprofit organization in the state of texas, is an awardwinning heritage. The ten regions with their thematic driving loops provided a manageable way in which to tour the vast state of texas. The first region to be reauthorized was the texas forts trail, and for the past fifteen years this organization has worked to promote the 650mile trail that winds through 29 counties. Fort concho national historic landmark 630 s oakes st, san angelo, texas 76903 rated 4. Along the texas forts trail showing 14 of 182 pages in this book.
Lee and william tecumseh sherman who visited the forts, the warren wagon train massacre, and what it was. Order our free texas travel brochures for indepth information about things to do, places to stay, where to eat, and local festivals and events in cities across the state. Central texas visit abilene, the defining city of west texas, where the frontier spirit is still applied to discovery, development and creativity. Today the texas forts trail follows a path that provides visitors with a peek into the lives of pioneers, soldiers, and native americans that helped to establish the lone star state. The very first stop in this new series is fort mason. Located in san antonio, fort sam houstin is within the texas independence trail region.
The texas forts trail that links most of them has its own informational map, but beware that the purpose of this, like other trails found throughout the state forest, hill country, independence, plains, lakes, etc. Even though ive been wrapped up in every day life, i did manage to visit a few places over the past couple of months. Mar 29, 2016 the texas forts trail that links most of them has its own informational map, but beware that the purpose of this, like other trails found throughout the state forest, hill country, independence, plains, lakes, etc. During its texas operation, passengers could book transport alongside the mail at two hundred dollars a ticket oneway, sharing a crowded coach or spring wagon with a halfdozen fellow passengers and their. Us 377 at the texas sh 36 west of downtown comanche book on wagon road or trial. Along the texas forts trail university of north texas press. Forts trail region participant in the texas historical commissions. As an extension of its educational mission, the texas plains trail region founded texas plains trail books in 20, during its tenthanniversary year, to preserve and distribute works of historical and cultural significance in print and digital formats. Tarleton state university for immediate release monday, march 17, 2014 stephenville, texashistorian and photographer derrick birdsall will present a free program on his new book of photographs, the texas forts trail, at the w.