Fort Sam Houston

Old Fort Sam Houston has more registered historical structures than Colonial Williamsburg. I will be telling some tales and showing some pictures about the historical Post that you will find fascinating.

During the World War I era this building was used as the Fort Sam Houston Guard House. It was here that the Black mutineers from Houston were imprisoned. Their famous trial was held in this building. They were found guilty and taken for hanging by Salado Creek. Where this took place, and their graves, along the Salado Creek are unknown. The building later served as the Post Library and is now being used for administrative offices.

Across the street from the Guard House is a red brick barracks similar to the barracks of Cavalry Post. The Cavalry Post consisted of four identical red brick barracks with a mess hall building and a latrine building to the rear of each barracks.

Auxiliary building to the rear of red brick barracks above. The building was probably for Non-commissioned officers.

Another red brick barracks on North New Braunfels Street south of the Guard House. Prior to 9-11 Fort Sam Houston was an open post and the City of San Antonio street, North New Braunfels ran through the post from south to north.

FORT SAM HOUSTON. Fort Sam Houston is a major military installation in the northeast section of San Antonio. As early as 1846 the city was attempting to secure the establishment of a permanent United States military installation. During the Mexican War the United States Army established a quartermaster depot at San Antonio and a training camp at San Pedro Springs. In 1849 San Antonio was named headquarters of the United States Army Eighth Military District with forces at Nuestra Seqora de la Purmsima Concepcisn Mission and San Pedro Springs. The Alamo was taken on lease from the Catholic Church and used for storage. The Vance house, a two-story stone house where the Gunter Hotel now stands, was leased for army headquarters. The city made several offers of free land, but all were refused except for a small parcel on Flores Street, which was used for an arsenal.

Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. "FORT SAM HOUSTON," (accessed May 12, 2006).