Fort McKavett State Historic Site
Encyclopedia
Fort McKavett State Historic Site is a state park
in Menard County, Texas, United States
. Fort McKavett was a frontier
fort
established as Camp San Saba in 1852 to protect settlers from Indian
raids. The camp was renamed in honor of Captain Henry McKavett, who was killed in the Mexican-American War battle of Monterrey
.
, number 71000955.
The fort received three Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks
: In 1936, Marker number 4795 for the site of Fort McKavett; in 1963, Marker number 1998 for Fort McKavett C.S.A.; and in 1968, Marker number 4642 for the Sentry Building.
.
Fort McKavett was abandoned in 1859 as Indian depredation in the area decreased and civilian migration to the area slowed down. The post was reoccupied by members of Henry McCulloch's Mounted Rifles in the fall of 1861 when the site was used as a temporary prisoner of war camp. The soldiers imprisoned in the fort's barracks were members of one of the six companies (B,E,F,H,I, and K) of the 8th Regiment of Infantry US that had been surrendered at the Battle of Adams Hill, north of San Antonio on May 9, 1861. Fort McKavett remained a prisoner of war camp until the late Spring of 1862 when the prisoners were transferred to Hempstead (near Houston) and then on to Camp Ford in Tyler, Texas. Elements of McCulloch's troops and members of the 31st Brigade of Texas State Troops the used the fort as a base of operations until the end of the war.
The fort was reactivated in 1868 as Indian raids became more frequent. The fort closed for good on June 30, 1883 - but with the Indian threat
gone, residents stayed - unlike the previous closing.
By the mid-1890s the community had 80 citizens, a weekly paper - and two hotels. In 1904 the school had twenty-eight students and two teachers.
By the 1920s, Fort McKavett's population was about 150 - falling to 136 during the years of the Great Depression
and staying at that level until the 1960s. From a reported 103 in the 70s, it declined to a mere 45 by 1990.
. The restoration continued and by 1990 seventeen buildings had been restored. On January 1, 2008, Fort McKavett was transferred from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to the Texas Historical Commission
. Now known as Fort McKavett State Historic Site, the area is a day-use facility of 82 acres (33.2 ha). The site is open daily to the public.
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
in Menard County, Texas, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Fort McKavett was a frontier
Frontier
A frontier is a political and geographical term referring to areas near or beyond a boundary. 'Frontier' was absorbed into English from French in the 15th century, with the meaning "borderland"--the region of a country that fronts on another country .The use of "frontier" to mean "a region at the...
fort
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
established as Camp San Saba in 1852 to protect settlers from Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
raids. The camp was renamed in honor of Captain Henry McKavett, who was killed in the Mexican-American War battle of Monterrey
Battle of Monterrey
In the Battle of Monterrey during the Mexican-American War, General Pedro de Ampudia and the Mexican Army of the North was defeated by U.S...
.
Historic designations
On July 4, 1971, Fort McKavett was added to the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, number 71000955.
The fort received three Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark is a designation awarded by the Texas Historical Commission for historically and architecturally significant properties in the state of Texas....
: In 1936, Marker number 4795 for the site of Fort McKavett; in 1963, Marker number 1998 for Fort McKavett C.S.A.; and in 1968, Marker number 4642 for the Sentry Building.
History
Camp followers formed a town a mile north of the post. It was supposed to be named after a German merchant by the surname of Lehne, but went by the unfortunate name of "Scabtown." The historic site itself is located 23 miles west of Menard, TexasMenard, Texas
Menard is a city in and the county seat of Menard County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,653 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
.
Fort McKavett was abandoned in 1859 as Indian depredation in the area decreased and civilian migration to the area slowed down. The post was reoccupied by members of Henry McCulloch's Mounted Rifles in the fall of 1861 when the site was used as a temporary prisoner of war camp. The soldiers imprisoned in the fort's barracks were members of one of the six companies (B,E,F,H,I, and K) of the 8th Regiment of Infantry US that had been surrendered at the Battle of Adams Hill, north of San Antonio on May 9, 1861. Fort McKavett remained a prisoner of war camp until the late Spring of 1862 when the prisoners were transferred to Hempstead (near Houston) and then on to Camp Ford in Tyler, Texas. Elements of McCulloch's troops and members of the 31st Brigade of Texas State Troops the used the fort as a base of operations until the end of the war.
The fort was reactivated in 1868 as Indian raids became more frequent. The fort closed for good on June 30, 1883 - but with the Indian threat
Indian Wars
American Indian Wars is the name used in the United States to describe a series of conflicts between American settlers or the federal government and the native peoples of North America before and after the American Revolutionary War. The wars resulted from the arrival of European colonizers who...
gone, residents stayed - unlike the previous closing.
By the mid-1890s the community had 80 citizens, a weekly paper - and two hotels. In 1904 the school had twenty-eight students and two teachers.
By the 1920s, Fort McKavett's population was about 150 - falling to 136 during the years of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and staying at that level until the 1960s. From a reported 103 in the 70s, it declined to a mere 45 by 1990.
Restoration
Restoration of the fort began in 1968 when the old school and one of the barracks was acquired and it was under the control of the Texas Parks and Wildlife DepartmentTexas Parks and Wildlife Department
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department is a Texas state agency that oversees and protects wildlife and their habitats. In addition, the agency is responsible for managing the state's parks and historical areas...
. The restoration continued and by 1990 seventeen buildings had been restored. On January 1, 2008, Fort McKavett was transferred from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to the Texas Historical Commission
Texas Historical Commission
The Texas Historical Commission is an agency dedicated to historic preservation within the state of Texas. It administers the National Register of Historic Places for sites in Texas....
. Now known as Fort McKavett State Historic Site, the area is a day-use facility of 82 acres (33.2 ha). The site is open daily to the public.