Fort Davis National Historic Site

Fort Davis National Historic Site

Fort Davis was established before the Civil War to protect settlers, stage coach routes and trains from (primarily Apache) Indian raiders.  The fort was closed before the beginning of the twentieth century.  We originally planned to visit the fort on Thursday (Adjusting to Altitude and Making Plans) but we went to the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute (CDRI)  instead.  We went to see Fort Davis National Historic Site on Monday.

Fort Davis National Historic Site Visitor Center
Fort Davis National Historic Site Visitor Center

At the visitor center, I paid our day-use fee.  I always like to look at gift shops.

Visitor Center Gift Shop
Visitor Center Gift Shop

Since we last toured the Fort Davis National Historic Site in 2006, the hospital has been added to the buildings that can be toured.  Because we hadn’t seen the hospital before, we started there first.

Fort Davis Hospital Complex
Fort Davis Hospital Complex

We decided to start on the Hospital’s left side.  Linda refused to go inside the building when she say the bat warning.

WARNING: Bat Infested Hospital
WARNING: Bat Infested Hospital

In the open air hallway through the middle of the first building, the air was foul with the stench of bat guano.  I was not deterred.

Chief Surgeon's Office
Chief Surgeon’s Office

The chief surgeon’s office was down the hallway to the right.  I’m quite sure I would have felt much more positively about a surgeon with a real human skeleton in his office.  A real confidence builder.  Nice to meet former patients.  Such remarkably clean and sterile tools, too.

Human Skeleton and Surgeon's Tools
Human Skeleton and Surgeon’s Tools

At the Dutch Oven Demonstration  demonstration Saturday night in the Davis Mountains State Park amphitheater, I asked the Historic Site Ranger how many people they had on staff.  He told me around 20 (I don’t recall the exact number) of which some were skilled at a trade or craft needed to maintain and restore the historic site.  I saw evidence of this craftsmanship at the site in a number of places including the Hospital.

The Dispensary Being Restored
The Dispensary Being Restored

Inside, the dispensary was being restored.  Outside, work was being done on the roof.  Definitely a labor of love.

Hospital Bat Hallway
Hospital Bat Hallway

Thankfully, I moved out of the Hospital building section that housed bats and into fresh air.  Note the lack of doors to keep the bats out of the attic.

Hospital Ward
Hospital Ward

The next building housed the hospital ward, where patients, like the one below, recovered from their illnesses.

Recovering Patient
Recovering Patient

I asked Linda to take a picture of me outside the hospital ward.

Standing in The Shade of The Hospital Porch
Standing in The Shade of The Hospital Porch

Linda had enough of walking in the sun.  She decided to go back to the visitor center and sit on the porch there.  I continued on to look at the officer’s housing.

Housing for One Single and One Married Lieutenants
Housing for One Single and One Married Lieutenants

Originally built for a Captain, the above house was furnished for one single and one married Lieutenant.

Single Lieutenant's Room
Single Lieutenant’s Room

The furnishings are spartan but nice.

Married Lieutenant's Parlor
Married Lieutenant’s Parlor

Each of the officer’s houses are perfectly lined up as shown in the photo below.

Officer's Housing Lined Up
Officer’s Housing Lined Up

The Commanding Officer’s house is the middle house in the row of houses.  It is also the nicest and biggest house.

Commanding Officer's Quarters
Commanding Officer’s Quarters

One challenge in photographing the officer’s quarters is that the interiors are not accessible.  I was looking into the rooms through outside windows.  At times, you an see reflections in the glass that cover up room contents.

Parlor Room for Entertaining Guests
Parlor Room for Entertaining Guests

The other end of the room above is below.  Nice piano.

Commanding Officer Parlor for Entertaining Guests
Commanding Officer Parlor for Entertaining Guests

After seeing the Commanding Officer’s housing, I  crossed the vast parade ground back to the Visitor Center.  The Visitor Center is in the same building as the enlisted men’s barracks.

Enlisted Men's Barracks
Enlisted Men’s Barracks

The enlisted men were typically called Buffalo Soldiers, a name the Indians gave to the soldiers they thought had hair like buffalo – African American Soldiers.  Here is a Buffalo Soldier in uniform dressed for the field.

Buffalo Soldier Ready To Go Out Into The Field
Buffalo Soldier Ready To Go Out Into The Field

After looking at the barracks, I went back to the Vistor Center to look at the displays there.  One thing that I learned was that Fort Davis was named after Jefferson Davis just before the Civil War.  Jefferson Davis was the head of the Confederacy.  Who knew?

Hope to see you on the road ahead!

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