Fort Concho (Tex.)

Fort Concho in San Angelo, Texas, was established in 1867 as Camp Hatch in order to maintain law and order in West Texas.

The name changed to Fort Concho the next year after the Middle and North Concho rivers in San Angelo. The complex expanded slowly, using materials imported from the Gulf Coast and stonemasons and carpenters from Fredericksburg. By 1879, the U.S. Army had stationed eight companies at Fort Concho and a number of officers commanded the fort, including Ranald S. Mackenzie and Benjamin H. Grierson. Grierson also commanded the District of the Pecos during his supervision of the fort from 1878 to 1881, and the Tenth U.S. Cavalry Regiment, known as the Buffalo Soldiers, were headquartered at the fort from 1875 to 1882. After the 10th Cavalry left, Fort Concho primarily housed soldiers awaiting reassignment. In 1889, the U.S. Army left, and the buildings were converted for civilian use. In 1930, Ginevra Wood Carson moved her West Texas Museum to the fort and renamed it the Fort Concho Museum. It became a National Historic Landmark in 1961.