Hours
Tuesday to Saturday
9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Tickets
Adult $5
Senior/Veteran/Teacher/First Responder $3
Child (6-17) $2
Child (5 and under) Free
Family (2 adults & 1 child) $8, each additional child $1
Programs
School Tours
Group Tours
Spanning 82 acres in the Pecos River valley, Fort Lancaster and Battlefield State Historic Site commemorates the vestiges of one of several posts established in the 1850s that played an important role in westward expansion by providing escorts for mail carriers, wagon trains, and settlers on the San Antonio–El Paso Road en route to California. In 1867, Fort Lancaster became the only U.S. Army fort in Texas to be directly attacked by Native Americans, when Buffalo Soldiers of Company K, 9th Cavalry, successfully defended the site against an attack by more than 900 Kickapoo, Comanche, Apache, and renegades. Today, visitors wander through ruins imagining the once-impressive establishment of over 30 permanent buildings—including a blacksmith shop, hospital, sutler’s store, and bakery—and enjoy the sights, sounds, and wildlife of West Texas.
See the Site
Plan Your Visit
At Fort Lancaster and Battlefield State Historic Site, visitors can tour the remnants of a 19th-century military fort that at one time had over 30 structures.
Fort Lancaster History
After the Mexican War (1846-1848), the U.S. Army was charged with the defense of settlements and with the protection of travelers through Western Texas.
Support the Fort Lancaster Company
Fort Lancaster Company is a "Fiscally Sponsored Project" of the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission (a 501(C)(3) nonprofit charitable organization). Your gift will directly support this organization.
Events at Fort Lancaster and Battlefield
Reveille to Taps
Thursday 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.The snare drum was at the very heart of the soldiers' routine on post. Watch a live performance of the various drum calls that soldiers at Fort Lancaster would have heard in the 1850s. *Call ahead for availability (432) 836-4391
Fort Lancaster and the Civil War
Saturday 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.During the War Between the States, Fort Lancaster was shaped by the sweeping changes that transformed Texas and the nation. Join us for a presentation to explore the fort’s role during the Civil War. Call (432) 836-4391 for more information.
Reveille to Taps
Saturday 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.The snare drum was at the very heart of the soldiers' routine on post. Watch a live performance of the various drum calls that soldiers at Fort Lancaster would have heard in the 1850s. *Call ahead for availability (432) 836-4391
Fort Lancaster and Battlefield in the Blog
Explore the THC's Frontier Forts
Discover the forts and other attractions awaiting visitors out on West Texas.
Support Our Historic Sites
Make a gift to the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to supporting the historic sites of the THC.
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