Another good day trip this year I thought I'd add to the list. Texas State Parks have events scheduled periodically throughout the year to spice up the nature walks. This little outpost northwest of Dallas/FortWorth had a Living History weekend back in April. For no charge over park admission you get to see reenactments, history experts (nice people obsessed with the 1800s), and some displays of life from the time the fort was in active use. Specifically, the 1860s and 1870s were on display and Texas Parks and Wildlife was celebrating the 146 year history of the site.
Our best Bison faces in the nature center building.
The parade ground is surrounded by original and restored buildings. The hospital is the largest and most impressive. Next would be the Officer's Quarters and barracks and the list goes on.
Ella, the 4yr old, was completely creeped out by this empty barracks and has mentioned the empty soldiers' bunk beds multiple times since this year.
If you want to talk politics or history these dudes will go to war with you. I am least likely to start a politics discussion among many I know. Therefore, I only learned this trying to listen to some explanations of what equipment they used.
A hospital room. Neglected to snap shots of the small operating room and medicine display.
Above: a trader about to get shot in a living history display - rebuilt barracks in background
Below: the hospital porch of historic displays
This wasn't quite the adventure for the two girls. It was a nice day out of town for the family and we enjoy the little road trips.
I really enjoyed the site most and spent a bit longer in the Interpretive Center reading the displays. I imagine this must have been a busy place for only a short time. This is not an Alamo where some significant battle took place. Many little settlements west of Fort Worth, TX have come and gone throughout history. This little fort didn't last much over 11 years in use. Understanding Texas history requires you drive quite a distance to find only a little abandoned outpost.
