Camp Santa Helena Cavalry Post -- Castolon Visitor Center, Big Bend NP TX
N 29° 08.014 W 103° 30.851
13R E 644540 N 3223696
The former US Army Camp Santa Helena Cavalry Post, active from 1916-1921, later used as a trading post and today serving as the Castolon Visitor Center at Big Bend National Park
Waymark Code: WMTZC6
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 01/27/2017
Views: 0
The Castolon Post buildings that still stand here today are part of the US National Register Castolon Historic district.
The former Castolon post barracks have been used as the Castolon Visitor center since 1961. A small post storage building is the Castolon Ranger Station, and the Officer's Quarters provides housing for the ranger's family that staffs this station. Adobe buildings nearby pre-date the fort, but were used for storage, and still stand today.
An interpretive sign at the barracks reads as follows:
"CAVALRY POST TO TRADING POST
"I never saw a place so definitely marked for a military post . . ." LT D. F. Green, commander, US-Mexican Boundary Survey Commission, 1852
Not until 1916 - during the Mexican Revolution - did the US Army establish Camp Santa Helena to guard this area against attacks. The Army built he permanent barracks and Officer's Quarters you still see here just as the Revolution was ending in 1920.
In 1921 Wayne Cartledge moved into the Army;s new buildings, using them for a trading post. As suggested by his business' name, La Harmonia Company, Cartledge worked to serve people from both sides of the border. He provided local families with necessary goods, while they provided labor for Cartledge's ranching and farming ventures. This place "so definitely marked for a military post" grew into the bi-cultural community known today as Castolon.
[photo]
Soldiers used horses to patrol this remote and rugged place, even after motorized military vehicles were available.
[photo]
Wayne Cartledge during the 1950s""
The year the "Fort" was constructed or started.: 1916
Name of "Country" or "Nation" that constructed this "Fort": US Army
Was this "Fort" involved in any armed conflicts?: No it wasn't
What was the primary purpose of this "Historic Fort"?: Used for defence of a border or land claim.
Current condition: in use by National park Service as Castolon Visitor Center
This site is administered by ----: National Park Service
If admission is charged -: 25.00 (listed in local currency)
Open to the public?: Open or unrestricted access.
Official or advertised web-page: [Web Link]
Link to web-site that best describes this "Historic Fort": [Web Link]
Link if this "Fort" is registered on your Countries/ State "Registry of Historical Sites or Buildi: [Web Link]
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