Fort
Sam Houston originated in 1845 when the Post at San Antonio was established in
the Alamo City.
After
the Civil War, the Army began to move out of the city onto land donated by the
City of San Antonio. In 1876, the construction of the Quadrangle began and the
Quartermaster Depot moved into it in 1877. The garrison moved into tents west
of the Quadrangle in 1879 and the Headquarters moved in 1881. The Post at San
Antonio continued to expand with the addition of the Infantry Post in the
1880s. It was designated as Fort Sam Houston in 1890 and expanded again in 1905
with the Cavalry and Light Artillery Post. These areas, plus the New Post of
the 1930s, constitute the largest collection of historic buildings in the
Department of Defense (800+) and form the Fort Sam Houston National Historic
Landmark.
Located
in the heart of San Antonio, the post is the birthplace of military aviation
and saw the development of the concept of airborne operations. The post evolved
into the “Home of Army Medicine” after World War II and into the “Home of
Military Medicine” with the establishment of the Medical Education and Training
Campus in 2010.
I love old post cards!
Geronimo 1829-1909
In 1905 Geronimo published his autobiography, and that same year he received a private audience with President Theodore Roosevelt, unsuccessfully pressing the American leader to let his people return to Arizona. He was never allowed to return to his homeland and in the end regretted surrendering, wishing he had fought to the death.
The Post Chapel
Edge of parade field
Fort Sam Theatre
Barracks
More Barracks
The row of historic Officer's homes is quite impressive.
The Grandkids also loved the war machines on display.
Another old post card.
Before 9/11, a city street ran through the center of the post. Within a day or two after the attack, the street was barricaded and remains so to this day.
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery on Memorial Day
I lived within a half block of Fort Sam for seven years and occasionally late in the evening
I would hear the eerie sound of Taps being played on a bugle...slow, clear, and beautifully. I never knew why or who it was for but a wave of sadness always accompanied it.
I lived within a half block of Fort Sam for seven years and occasionally late in the evening
I would hear the eerie sound of Taps being played on a bugle...slow, clear, and beautifully. I never knew why or who it was for but a wave of sadness always accompanied it.
9 comments:
I deleted my own comment somehow. I don't like when that happens!
Whenever I hear Taps it makes me feel sad, too. For some reason the notes go right to my core.
Thanks for the interesting history lesson. I have never been to Texas, but each week you introduce me to something new about your state. Thanks!
~Jess
Oh- also- loved the pictures and the information about Fort Sam Houston through the years! Fascinating. :)
~Jess
What a fascinating post. So much history and beauty. I'd love to see this place someday. On a side note, we really did screw the native American Indian's over didn't we?
I love your post, Anna. There's so much history in and around San Antonio. It's marvellous.
I feel sorry for Geronimo.
Thanks for visiting the blog Jess and hope someday you get to visit our Hill Country. I'm really not a marketer for our area but love to share our interesting history.
My son who lives in New Hampshire told me his last visit that even though their history goes back farther than ours, they built their historic buildings out of wood rather than stone so not near as many still exist. I had never thought of that. We have lots of stone so I suppose it was natural they used so much of it.
Barb...I do hope you get to visit. My great grandmother was an Apache so I do have a lot of apathy also for what they did to the Native Americans.
Thanks Jill! My Dad was born six months after Geronimo died and I've often wondered if there really is such a thing as reincarnation, if Daddy was once the chief.:)
Dad loved hunting and respected the soil as much as anyone I've ever known and he looked exactly like a Native American with his dark skin and coal black straight hair.
Hi Anna, my apologies for being late to the party. What a rich history! I love the old buildings. I think if Geronimo did actually jump he must have had angels to catch him!
Grace...happy you visited. I read Geronimo's autobiography years ago and saw several movies made about him. He was a fascinating character and what drove him to do a lot of the fearless things he did was tragic love lost. I wouldn't bet he didn't jump from that tower.
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