Old Fort Concho -- San Angelo TX
N 31° 27.168 W 100° 25.669
14R E 364333 N 3480667
The Fort Concho the WPA writers saw was VASTLY different from the Fort Concho of 2016, which has benefited from 50 years of restorations, demolitions of modern buildings, and preservation.
Waymark Code: WMV18C
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 02/06/2017
Views: 2
Fort Concho was established in 1867, and protected the Texas frontier until it was deactivated in 1889. Over time, the fort was repurposed and integrated into the city of San Angelo, and filled up with unrelated and interfering buildings (including an elementary school built in 1907 on the parade ground). Finally in the 1960s, an concerted effort was made to preserve and protect the historic fort buildings, and eventually return the Fort to its 1870s appearance.
Fort Concho was listed as a US National Historic Landmark in 1961, over 2 decades after the WPA writers passed through.
The waymark coordinates are for the Fort's Headquarter's Building, which was the West Texas Museum the WPA writers visited in the 1930s.
From Texas: A Guide to the Lone Star State:
"Old FORT CONCHO (open), Oakes St. and Ave. D, was abandoned
in 1889. It is for the most part in good repair, although a few buildings have been torn down. This post has changed names a number of times, has been garrisoned by many famous regiments, and was the point from which General Mackenzie set out on one of his Indian expeditions.
The WEST TEXAS MUSEUM (open), is housed in the former officers' headquarters at Fort Concho. The sundial of the fort is near the museum. Exhibits include pioneer relics and a large archeological collection. "
Book: Texas
Page Number(s) of Excerpt: 473
Year Originally Published: 1940
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