Fort Sam Houston facts for kids
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Fort Sam Houston
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Clock tower built in 1876 inside the Quadrangle on Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
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| Location | San Antonio, Texas |
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| Built | 1876 |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001950 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 15, 1975 |
| Designated NHLD | May 15, 1975 |
Fort Sam Houston is a large U.S. Army base located in San Antonio, Texas. People often call it "Fort Sam." It is named after Sam Houston, a very important person in Texas history. He was a U.S. Senator, a U.S. Representative, a governor of both Tennessee and Texas, and the first president of the Republic of Texas.
This base is home to many important military groups. It serves as the main office for the United States Army North and United States Army South. It also hosts the main office for the Army Medical Command (MEDCOM), which is in charge of Army medicine. The Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Center and School, where many medical soldiers are trained, is also here. On October 1, 2010, Fort Sam Houston joined Lackland Air Force Base and Randolph Air Force Base to form Joint Base San Antonio. This means it is now managed by the Air Force.
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What Military Groups Call Fort Sam Houston Home?
Fort Sam Houston is a busy place with many different military units. Here are some of the main ones:
- Medical Education and Training Campus (METC): This is a big school where many military medical professionals get their training.
- U.S. Army North (ARNORTH): This group is in charge of protecting the U.S. homeland and helping during emergencies.
- U.S. Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM): This command helps manage Army bases around the world.
- U.S. Army Medical Command (MEDCOM): This is the main group for all Army medical services.
- Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC): A very large hospital and training center.
- U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School Health Readiness Center of Excellence (AMEDDC&S HRCoE): This is where many Army medical soldiers learn their skills.
- U.S. Army South (ARSOUTH): This group works with countries in Central and South America.
- U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC): This group helps new people join the Army.
- U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command: This is where Army detectives work.
- U.S. Air Force Elements: Since Fort Sam Houston is part of Joint Base San Antonio, the Air Force also has important groups here, like the 502nd Air Base Wing.
Who is in Charge at Fort Sam Houston?
The United States Army North is the highest Army command at Fort Sam Houston. It is responsible for all Army activities on the base. Their main jobs are to protect the U.S. and help during emergencies. They also work with countries like Canada and Mexico.
Even though Army North is the senior command, Fort Sam Houston is now part of Joint Base San Antonio. This means the overall commander of the base is from the Air Force. This commander leads the 502d Air Base Wing.
Fort Sam Houston: The Home of Army Medicine
Fort Sam Houston is often called the "Home of Army Medicine" and "Home of the Combat Medic." After World War II, the Army decided that Fort Sam Houston would be its main place for medical training.
Because of this decision, Brooke General Hospital became one of the Army's top medical centers. It works with Wilford Hall Medical Center from nearby Lackland Air Force Base. Together, they form the largest military hospital and teaching hospital in the entire Department of Defense. The hospital was made much bigger, with more emergency rooms, surgery areas, and teaching spaces. Even though the base is now managed by the Air Force, the hospital itself is still run by the Army. Both Army and Air Force staff work there, along with many civilians.
As of 2011, Fort Sam Houston is the biggest and most important military medical training center in the world.
Many groups provide military medical training here. These include the METC, the AMEDD Center and School, Brooke Army Medical Center, and the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research.
The Army Medical Department Center and School is like the "brain" for Army medicine. Each year, it trains over 25,000 students in 170 different courses. These courses cover 14 medical specialties for officers, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted soldiers. The school also works with major universities like Baylor University for bachelor's and master's degree programs.
Because of a plan called the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) in 2005, all military medical training was brought together at Fort Sam Houston. This finished when the Military Education and Training Campus (METC) opened in 2011. The Navy moved its medical training from California, Illinois, and Virginia. The Air Force moved its medical training from Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. This meant many more students came to Fort Sam Houston, needing more staff and new buildings. The expansion cost almost a billion dollars, which was a big investment in Texas.
Historic Buildings at Fort Sam Houston
Building at Fort Sam Houston started in the mid-1870s. It was overseen by Major General Edward Ord, an Army engineer. Today, Fort Sam Houston is one of the Army's oldest bases. It has over 900 buildings in its historic areas, making it one of the largest collections of old military structures. In 1975, Fort Sam Houston was recognized as a National Historic Landmark because of its important history.
In 1873, the government set aside $100,000 to build a new Army post in San Antonio. The Edward Braden Construction Co. won the contract in 1876. Part of the plan was the Quadrangle, which included an 87-foot watch tower and a water tank. This tower was designed by General Montgomery C. Meigs, who called it "his work of art."
In 1877, a new train station opened nearby, connecting San Antonio to Galveston. The Army soon moved its supplies to the Quadrangle. The main office for the "Post at San Antonio" moved there in 1879.
In 1880, fifteen homes for officers were designed by architect Alfred Giles. These homes were built west of the Quadrangle, near a parade ground. This included the home for the Commanding General, built in 1881, which is now known as the Pershing House.
Between 1885 and 1893, 60 more buildings were added to the base. These were built on land purchased east of the Quadrangle. This area included the 1893 Band Barracks. The hospital, now called Sam Houston House, was built in 1886. The base was officially named Fort Sam Houston on September 11, 1890.
The Fort Sam Houston Quadrangle is the oldest building on the base. It was first used as a supply depot. For a time, it held the Apache war chief Geronimo and his warriors as prisoners. There's a story that the deer in the Quadrangle were there because Geronimo refused to eat food he didn't hunt. However, the deer were actually there before Geronimo. No one knows for sure why deer and peacocks were put into the courtyard.
Today, the Quadrangle is an office building for the commanding general and staff of U.S. Army North. It also houses the Fort Sam Houston Museum. The base has kept the historical look of its different sections, which show different times of construction and Army designs. This careful preservation helps the base live with its long history.
The Gift Chapel was opened by President William Taft in 1909.
During World War II, space at the fort was used to hold up to 1,000 German POWs. This happened in 1942 while larger POW camps were being built.
Famous People Who Served Here
Many famous people have served at Fort Sam Houston. These include Arthur MacArthur Jr., Leonard Wood, Benjamin Foulois, Frederick Funston, and John J. Pershing. Brig. Gen. Billy Mitchell was stationed here after being demoted.
Dwight D. Eisenhower, who later became a U.S. President, was stationed at Fort Sam Houston twice. During his first time there from 1915 to 1917, he met and married Mamie Doud. Their first home on the base is now a historic monument. He was also at the fort when the attack on Pearl Harbor happened in 1941. General Wainwright took command of the Fourth United States Army here in 1946.
Fort Sam Houston and the Community
Fort Sam Houston and the city of San Antonio have always had a close relationship. They have grown together over the years. San Antonio is sometimes called the "mother-in-law of the Army" because so many soldiers, like Dwight D. Eisenhower, met their future spouses there.
After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Army closed New Braunfels Avenue to public traffic in 2003. This road used to be a major street for both soldiers and San Antonio citizens. The closure affected many businesses near the base entrances.
More than 27,000 military and civilian people work at Fort Sam Houston. The base has a large annual budget and spends a lot of money locally. Fort Sam Houston has also worked with private companies to fix up and reuse important historic buildings.
Fort Sam Houston is one of three military bases in Texas (all in San Antonio) that has its own school district, called the Fort Sam Houston Independent School District.
The United States Postal Service also has a post office on the base.
See also
In Spanish: Fuerte Sam Houston para niños
