Fort Stockton

Paisano Pete is the worlds largerst Roadrunner. He welcomes people into Fort Stockton. He is so dang cute!

Wagon train and settlers coming into the area

Cowboys herding the famous Texas Longhorns

Comanche watching for Buffalo

This is the Visitor’s Center in Fort Stockton. It is in the original Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railroad Depot constructed in 1911. The first train arrived in Fort Stockton in1912 and the railroad proved successful for many years.The rail was eventually taken over by Texas and they became involved in the preservation and operation of the railroad line. The South Orient Line was one of seven rail gateways to between Mexico and the United States. It had the potential to relieve some of the conjestion at the borders by deverting rail traffic to the gateway at Persidio/Ojinaga. The 391 mile long railroad is the only rail owned by the state of Texas.

The Visitor Center highlights five pieces of Fort Stockton’s history; The Comanche War trail, and the Comanche People, the Buffalo Soldiers, the Early Settlers and the Vaqueros (cowboys). The metal silhouettes are in my photos here.

There are Two caboose cars outside the Visitor Center. The South Orient Line eventually purchased the Santa Fe, Atchinson, and Topeka rail lines before it filed for abandonment. That was when Texas took it over in 1999.

Interesting, made in Michigan

He has his eyes in his fingers and is playing with the wheel.

One of the cars as it was.

The second car redone for meetings. Pretty cool.

East and West of Fort Stockton on the south side of I-10 are two large sculptured silhouettes  created by New Mexico Artist Brain Norwood. This piece depicts men of the Ninth U.S.Cavalry as they road toward their post near Comanche Springs, now called Fort Stockton. In columns of two they follow the commanding officers to Fort Stockton. They became known as the  Buffalo Soldiers.

This piece looking East, represents a small hunting party of Comanche as they pause to search for the few remaining Buffalo in the area. Knowing that the soldiers might be near, their leader cautions them to be alert to danger.

The oldest house is finally going to be restored.

The Annie Riggs Memorial Museum showcases Fort Stockton and Pecos Counties past. It was an original adobe structure. It was a hotel and boarding house built at the turn of the century. It was run by a frontier woman of the same name. The museum contains thirteen rooms including a kitchen, parlor, and sitting room. They are recreated with objects much the same as if in her day. One room was furnished with a cast iron bed ordered from the Sears and Roebuck catalogue in 1900 for the cost of $6.75, including freight. The walls were 1 and 1/2 feet thick so it was very cool. No air conditioning. It was warm the day we were there and I had to step out often to warm up.


The Grey Mule Saloon is across the street from the Museum. Now it is a tasting room for St. Genevieve winery. Unfortunately it wasn’t open the day we were there.

It was built around 1890 as one of a number of saloons in Fort Stockton.

Camp Stockton was established in 1858. Today only three buildings remain. The original Officers Row, one is a private residence, the original limestone guardhouse, two reconstructed men’s barracks, kitchen and the parade grounds.

The Officers Quarters

The Guard House

A neat wagon

Sure would be a rough ride in that wagon

Inside the Barracks 

The post was established it protect settlers on the numerous roads and trails heading west to Mexico and California from San Antonio. The abundant water supply of Comanche Springs made Fort Stockton a regular stop on the frontier crossroads including stage coach lines. All trails intersected the Comanche War Trail  here.

The U.S. Army withdrew from Texas during the Civil War and abandoned the camp in 1861. Confederate troops were here briefly, but by the end of the war little of the post remained.

In July 1867, Colonel Edward Hatch re-established the the Fort at its present location. It was the home of the 9th Cavalry, the regiments created for the black men known as the Buffalo Soldiers. After the Civil War black men sought security in the U.S.Army. By the 1880’s the Indian Menace was no longer a threat, and the future of the Fort was limited.It was abandoned in 1886, as the frontier moved west.

The old cemetery is still there, but most of the military persons buried there have been reinterred in National 

Cemetery’s

On a lighter note, it’s a good thing this car was there to catch the runaway tumble weed.

Phew! Hopefully these long posts are not to much. But I wish I could add all the pictures. And I know how looking at someone else’s pictures can be a bummer. But there is so much to see. Wish you all could be here too!

Hope you are all well and enjoying the last of winter. Love you all.

God Bless America.