Despite their name, forts throughout the West were not always used for protection against potential enemies. Many contained life, not death, as travelers stopped to trade goods or stock up on supplies. Even military forts often never saw battle, but still hold stories about the soldiers who lived and worked there. Consider taking a journey through American history on your next group adventure out West. Notable forts in California, Texas, and Wyoming offer a glimpse into the many reasons why settlers fortified America.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, the U.S. military built a slew of forts in the shadow of where the Golden Gate Bridge now stands in California. Soldiers at stations like Fort Baker and Fort Point were charged with protecting military and commercial activities near San Francisco Bay. At Fort Baker, built in the early 1900s, guests can do a self-guided walking tour of the parade grounds, with stops at the gymnasium, hospital, and barracks. At Fort Point—constructed in the mid-1800s—visitors can indulge in a candlelight tour to explore all four levels of the historic structure at night.
About two hours north of San Francisco, in Sonoma County, travelers can also tour Fort Ross, a Russian settlement that was active between 1812 and 1841. A colony of Russians and Native Alaskans built the fort as a commercial outpost, allowing them to hunt and live along the California coast. Groups can explore a reconstructed version of the colony’s Russian chapel, as well as the Rotchev House, where the fort manager once lived and is now its only remaining original structure.
In the Lone Star State, soldiers built a line of army forts, creating a Texas Frontier that would stand guard against the lawless nature of the Wild West. Fort Davis, a military post built to protect immigrants, mail coaches, and freight wagons, overlooks the Davis Mountains in West Texas. Visitors can explore more than 100 different buildings and ruins, with opportunities during the summer months to learn from knowledgeable history interpreters stationed at the site.
Credit: Wyoming Office of Tourism
San Antonio’s Fort Sam Houston, built in 1845, was named after the first president of the Republic of Texas, who held office before the region became a state. The site houses two museums: the Fort Sam Houston Museum and the U.S. Army Medical Department Museum. As the only museum of its kind in the nation, the U.S. Army Medical Department Museum documents medical equipment, care, and treatment progress from 1775 to present day.
During America’s westward expansion in the 1800s, settlers on wagon trains would stop for supplies at a string of forts across Wyoming. Fort Bridger, established in Uinta County in 1843, served as a fur trading post and welcomed customers who were traveling on the Oregon, California, and Mormon trails. Today, visitors can take an interpretative tour of the fort’s 27 historic structures and several replica buildings, including homestead cabins and a Pony Express Barn.
Farther east, Fort Laramie in Goshen County was a popular business destination for thousands of traders, missionaries, ranchers, and homesteaders. The National Park Service offers an audio tour that re-creates the sounds of life at the fort and features readings from residents’ diaries. Here, groups can see Old Bedlam, the former living quarters for bachelor officers and the oldest building in Wyoming.
By Ta’leah Van Sistine
Main Image: Fort Ross, Sonoma County, California; Credit: Sonoma County Tourism
