September 2023.
Fort Stockton, Texas.

One of the most enjoyable things to do when we travel the United States is to visit historic forts and the museums that usually accompany them. On our fall trip in 2023, we drove through Fort Stockton and spent some time at the fort.

In the context of Fort Stockton, the frontier referenced in the post title was the vast expanse of untamed West Texas, characterized by rugged landscapes and uncharted trails. The frontier was where people faced the wilderness head-on, forging paths and building communities in a region marked by both beauty and hardship.

The historic Fort Stockton site has several buildings to explore. Four original structures still stand, including three officers’ quarters and the original guardhouse. Additionally, two barracks and two kitchens have been reconstructed using the fort’s original blueprints. These reconstructed buildings now house a museum and visitor center, offering a glimpse into the fort’s history and role during the Indian Wars.

One of the museum’s exhibits focuses on Captain William George Wedemeyer. He served at Fort Stockton with the 16th Infantry. His journals and photographs provide a vivid account of life at the fort and the surrounding area in West Texas during the late 19th century.

I was drawn to this exhibit because the Captain documented the fort through his photography. As a surveyor, he documented the challenges of living in the rugged frontier, capturing the landscapes, daily routines, and interactions of the people stationed there.

This Indian Wars Fort was active from 1867 to 1886. It was strategically placed at Comanche Springs to protect the San Antonio-to-El Paso mail, freight wagons, cattle drives, and emigrants. The fort was garrisoned by the 9th Cavalry, known as “Buffalo Soldiers.” It also provided employment for freighters and laborers and a market for farmers, stockmen, and merchants.

On its webpage here, the Fort Stockton Historical Society invites you to its annual “Living History Day ” event, which is held on the third weekend in October. Admission is free. The festivities include something for everyone from re-enactors celebrating our vibrant military history, army laundresses and cannon firing demonstrations, cavalry drills, Native Americans and Tipis, Texas Camel Corps, 1800s baseball, Texas Wildlife Trailer, and chuck wagon. When we arrived late afternoon on the day of our visit, there were no other visitors to the museum. We spent about an hour exploring the museum and left the customary voluntary donation for admission.

About the photos: The photos included here are also posted on my Flickr site here for those who like to pixel-peep. They were created on my Sony RX100-M5 as three images merged into HDR via Adobe Lightroom Classic and tweaked in Luminar Neo. AI technology was used in some pictures to remove distractions.

John Steiner