Fort McKavett Historic District
National Register of Historic Places

Fort McKavett Historic District

Fort McKavett, Menard County, Texas
Listed
July 13, 1971
Type
District
Period
Early Republic
Ref No.
71000955

About this property

The Fort McKavett State Historic Site is a former United States Army installation located in Menard County, Texas. The fort was first established in 1852 as part of a line of forts in Texas intended to protect migrants traveling to California. The fort was deemed unnecessary and abandoned in 1859 and was occupied by settlers. From 1861 to 1863, during the American Civil War, the fort became an outpost of Confederate forces on the Texas frontier until they left for other theaters of the war. When the US Army returned to Texas in the later 1860s, the fort was reoccupied and rebuilt, and was at times garrisoned by the "Buffalo Soldier", or all-African American, 24th Infantry and 9th Cavalry Regiments. Fort McKavett was abandoned permanently in June 1883 and was once again occupied by civilian settlers who converted its buildings into residences and businesses. The town of Fort McKavett, Texas, grew within and beyond the fort's grounds until the late 1920s. Thereafter it began a long decline until it became a ghost town by the end of the 20th century. Preservation of the fort began in 1968 and on July 14, 1971, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Fort McKavett is managed by the state of Texas as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark.

Location

Fort McKavett, Menard County, Texas
30.82951, -100.10903

Categories

MILITARY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Fort McKavett Historic District

This page lists Fort McKavett Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Fort McKavett Historic District report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Menard County Courthouse
Industrial
20.2 mi
Brambletye
Industrial
23.7 mi
State Highway 27 Bridge at the South Llano River
Industrial
31.6 mi
State Highway 27 Bridge at Johnson Fork
Industrial
37.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Fort McKavett Historic District listed on the National Register?

Fort McKavett Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 13, 1971.

What type of historic resource is Fort McKavett Historic District?

Fort McKavett Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Fort McKavett Historic District?

The period of significance for Fort McKavett Historic District is recorded as the early_republic era, specifically around 1852.

Can I research the history near Fort McKavett Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Fort McKavett Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Menard County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Menard County.

Explore MenardCounty ›

More historic places in Texas

Browse all historic places in Texas.

View Texashistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Texas history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Texashistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Fort McKavett Historic District will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report