Fort Griffin facts for kids
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Fort Griffin
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Fort Griffin State Historic Site in 2009
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 Fort Griffin
Location in Texas
Fort Griffin
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Albany, Texas |
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| Area | 204.6 acres (82.8 ha) |
| Built | 1867 |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000962 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | March 11, 1971 |
Fort Griffin is an old US Cavalry fort in North Texas. It was built on July 31, 1867. Its main job was to protect settlers from raids by Comanche and Kiowa Native American groups.
The fort was first called Camp Wilson. This was in honor of Henry Hamilton Wilson, a lieutenant whose father was a senator and later Vice President. Later, it was renamed Fort Griffin. This new name honored Charles Griffin, a general from the American Civil War. He was in charge of the Department of Texas during the time after the war, known as Reconstruction.
Fort Griffin was part of a system of forts on the southwestern frontier. Other forts included Richardson, Concho, Davis, and McKavett in Texas. Fort Sill in Oklahoma was also part of this system. These forts helped protect the growing settlements in the region.
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Building and Protecting the Frontier
When Fort Griffin was first planned, the idea was to build strong stone buildings. However, this didn't happen. For all 14 years it was open, the fort looked temporary. Most buildings were made of logs or rough wood frames. Only six of the more than 90 buildings were fully made of stone. This was because building materials and money were hard to find. Also, the soldiers were very busy with their daily military duties.
Even though building the fort took a lot of time, the soldiers spent most of their time defending the frontier. They patrolled the area and fought against Native American groups. For example, Captain Adna Chaffee successfully fought the Comanche in March 1868. More soldiers arrived in June 1868 to help protect the area.
A Busy Frontier Town
Fort Griffin was an important starting point for many trips heading west. A busy community grew up around the fort. This town, called "The Flat," served travelers and soldiers. It had places like saloons where people could relax. The town was located northeast of Abilene.
By 1870, "The Flat" became a major stop for cattle drives. These drives moved cattle north to places like Dodge City, Kansas. Many well-known figures from the Old West visited Fort Griffin during this time. These included Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and Bat and Jim Masterson. Pat Garrett, a famous lawman, also passed through. John Selman, another lawman, worked as a deputy sheriff in the area.
General William Tecumseh Sherman and Inspector General Randolph B. Marcy visited the fort in May 1871.
The Fort's Closing
After the Red River War in 1874, the threat from the Comanche and Kiowa groups became much smaller. More and more ranchers and farmers moved into the area. This meant Fort Griffin was no longer on the edge of the frontier. It was now in a settled area.
Because its main purpose was no longer needed, Fort Griffin closed. On May 31, 1879, the last soldiers lowered the flag. They then marched to Fort Clark.
Fort Griffin in Movies
The beginning of the 1957 movie Gunfight at the O.K.Corral takes place in Fort Griffin. In the movie, Doc Holliday is shown in a saloon fight while Wyatt Earp watches.
Gallery
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Hospital
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Hospital marker
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Clear Fork of the Brazos River looking from the top of "Government Hill"
Preserving Fort Griffin's History
Today, Fort Griffin is a Texas state historic site. On January 1, 2008, the Texas Historical Commission took over its care. Before that, it was managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Every year, during the last two weekends of June, a special show called the Fort Griffin Fandangle takes place. It's a Western musical performed by people from Albany. This show started in 1938 and is known as "Texas' Oldest Outdoor Musical."
Also, Fort Griffin is home to some of the official state herd of Texas Longhorns. These cattle help keep the history of the area alive.
Climate Around Fort Griffin
The weather in the Fort Griffin area has hot and humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool. According to the Köppen climate classification system, this area has a humid subtropical climate. This means it gets plenty of rain and has warm temperatures for much of the year.
See also
In Spanish: Fort Griffin para niños
