Fort Sam Houston

Fort Sam Houston (1845-1846) (1849-1853) (1857-1861) (1865-Present) - Established in 1845 as the San Antonio Quartermaster Depot and later as the Post at San Antonio. The post was renamed Fort Sam Houston on 10 Sep 1890 after General Sam Houston, hero of the battle of San Jacinto and first president of the Republic of Texas. Still an active military post.

Fort Sam Houston Clock Tower	Entrance to Fort Sam Houston Quadrangle

Fort Sam Houston History

At first, the Army leased facilities in the City of San Antonio, including the Alamo. In fact, the Army repaired the Alamo structure and added a roof so it could be used as a headquarters.

In 1876, the Army began to move its facilities to the present site of Fort Sam Houston upon completion of the Quadrangle. The post has since increased in size from the original 92 acres donated to the Army by the city, to approximately 3,000 acres today.

As it expanded, additional facilities were built to meet the Army's needs. The headquarters and garrison always have constituted one of the Army's most important commands. Prior to the Civil War, the headquarters controlled 25 percent of the Army's forces. From 1910 until World War II, Fort Sam Houston was the largest Army post in the continental United States. Many of the most distinguished American soldiers have served here, including no less than 13 Army Chiefs of Staff and two United States presidents. The post's prominence led to significant tactical and organizational innovations. Military aviation was born here in 1910 and revitalized during the 1940's and 150s. Large-scale troop maneuvers have been conducted, including the first effective use of the Command Post Exercise in 1911. Field exercises in the 1930's developed the Triangular Division. This streamlined, mobile organization was the foundation of the Army combat power in World War II. The delivery of troops to the battlefield by air also was tested here in 1939-41. Aeromedical evacuation of casualties was first developed here as early as 1917.

At the end of the Second World War, the Army decided to make Fort Sam Houston the principal medical training facility. In conjunction with this decision, came the determination to develop Brooke General Hospital into one of the Army's premier medical centers.

Current Status

Fort Sam Houston is an active U.S. Army base and is the largest and most important military medical training facility in the world.

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Location: Located in San Antonio, Texas. Interstate 35 at the New Braunfels Street exit. Maps & Images Lat: 29.444456 Long: -98.462348 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 750'

Sources:

• Frazer, Robert W., Forts of the West, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman OK, 1965, ISBN 0-8061-1250-6, page 159
• Hart, Herbert M., Tour Guide to Old Western Forts, Pruett Publishing Co., Boulder CO, 1980, ISBN 0-87108-568-2, page 166

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Sam Houston
• Wikipedia
• Official Fort Sam Houston Site

Visited: 12 Oct 2007

Fort Sam Houston Picture Gallery

Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better!

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  Fort Sam Houston Clock Tower in the center of the Quadrangle
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  Cannon at the base of the Fort Sam Houston Clock Tower
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  Fort Sam Houston Clock Tower
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  Officers Quarters on the Staff Post of Fort Sam Houston