Fort Martin Scott State Historic Site

Fort Martin Scott State Historic Site Welcome to Fort Martin Scott—the first U.S. Army post founded in 1848 on the Texas Frontier located in Fredericksburg.

We’re back with more Gillespie County Fair history! While you’re riding the Ferris wheel and shoving funnel cake down yo...
08/26/2026

We’re back with more Gillespie County Fair history! While you’re riding the Ferris wheel and shoving funnel cake down your gullet, we hope you’ll take a moment to look back at the history that made the 138th Gillespie County Fair possible!

We left off in 1884, with the Gillespie County Association for Agriculture and Livestock Raising hosting the fair at Braeutigam Garten. Sadly, the fair’s time at Braeutigam Garten was cut short when Johann Braeutigam lost his life during a robbery at his saloon in September 1884.

The fair would not return until October 1891. The following year, the Gillespie County Association hosted the fair at Central Park, then located generally in the vicinity of Turner Hall and the City Pool.

In early 1892, a group of Gillespie County citizens met to organize a new fair association. Their initial goal was to purchase a permanent site for annual agricultural exhibits. A stock company was formed, with L. Hagen as president, Emil Wahrmund Sr. as vice president, Henry Wahrmund as secretary, H. Henke Sr. as treasurer, and A.L. Patton, August Rabke, W. Metzger, S.L. Brodie, Conrad Weigehausen, H. Schlueter, and John Dietz serving as directors.
The new association purchased 39½ acres near Fredericksburg for its fairgrounds. Today, that land is roughly where H-E-B and the surrounding baseball and skate park are located.

After drilling a well and constructing several buildings, the association added a racetrack. According to Robert Penniger’s 1896 account, the track was “elliptical in shape and one mile long.”
The first fair at the new grounds was held September 24–28, 1892, and was an outstanding success. Fairs continued there through 1895.

But the fair faced hardships, including severe droughts that affected the county. A new partnership, the Gillespie County Fair and Improvement Company, was formed on February 10, 1905. The company purchased the property and buildings from the incorporated Gillespie County Fair Association for $4,000. Its first fair was held September 16–18, 1905.
Then, in 1913, the railroad arrived in Fredericksburg, opening a new chapter for the Gillespie County Fair. The association sold the railroad a roughly 200-foot-wide strip along the southern edge of the fairgrounds, where the depot was constructed. For a time, the railroad even used the fair’s exhibition hall as a ticket and express office.

With the railroad bringing more visitors and opportunities to Fredericksburg, the fair was ready to grow into something people would travel from far and wide to experience.

Check back tomorrow as we continue the story of the Gillespie County Fair!



Photo: Ariel view of the Gillespie County Fairgrounds in 1975 before it moved to the modern-day location.

As we ramp up for the 138th Gillespie County Fair, let’s take a look back at the history of one of Texas’ longest-runnin...
08/25/2026

As we ramp up for the 138th Gillespie County Fair, let’s take a look back at the history of one of Texas’ longest-running county fairs, and just how much it has grown since those early days!

The first Gillespie County Fair was held right here at Fort Martin Scott in 1881. In fact, the first four fairs were held on these grounds, which were known at the time as “Braeutigam Garten.”

The story began with the formation of the Gillespie County Association for Agriculture and Livestock Raising, commonly known as the “Farmers Association.” Organized on July 26, 1880, and incorporated on June 13, 1881, the association’s goal was to promote the agricultural and social interests of its members.
The first officers were:
• C. Kramer, President
• A. Koennecke, Vice President
• H. R. Bieberstein, Secretary
• H. Buchen, Assistant Secretary
• H. Henke, Treasurer

The association would eventually dissolve in 1895, but its efforts helped lay the foundation for the Gillespie County Fair we know today. The organization held five agricultural exhibitions in Fredericksburg, with the first four taking place here at Braeutigam Garten.

So, why was this location chosen?

Johann Wolfgang Braeutigam purchased the 640 acres that included Fort Martin Scott in March 1870. Already operating a successful farm raising livestock, Indian corn, wheat, and cotton, Braeutigam looked for additional ways to make his property profitable. Located along the road into Fredericksburg, his property became a popular stopping place. He built a saloon, a small store, and what is believed to have been the county’s first dance hall. Across Barons Creek, the land was cleared and developed into a horse racing track.

With crowds already gathering at Braeutigam Garten, it was a natural choice for the Farmers Association’s livestock and agricultural exhibitions.

The early fairs were a little different from what we see today. There were far fewer attractions, and horse racing was the main event, drawing large crowds eager to watch the horses compete for speed.

From horse races at Braeutigam Garten to the massive celebration we know today, the fair has grown alongside the Gillespie County community, and its roots are right here at Fort Martin Scott.
This is just the beginning of the story. Check back tomorrow as we continue through the history of the Gillespie County Fair and see how the community helped shape this Texas tradition!

In the 1830s, pioneer Noah Smithwick spent time among the Penateka Comanches of Central Texas. During a visit to the vil...
08/14/2026

In the 1830s, pioneer Noah Smithwick spent time among the Penateka Comanches of Central Texas. During a visit to the village of Chief Muguara, located about twenty-five miles from Austin, Smithwick observed the daily life and skills of the Comanche people, including the important work performed by women in preparing hides.

Smithwick described how a hide was stretched on the ground with the hair side down. Every bit of flesh was carefully removed with a bone scraper. Lime was then spread over the cleaned surface to absorb grease, after which animal brains were rubbed into the hide. The hide was repeatedly worked until it became soft and pliable, a process that required considerable labor over several days.

Once prepared, the hide could be decorated. Smithwick noted that Comanche women sometimes painted symbolic designs on the finished hide using colored chalks. He particularly remembered sun-like designs, describing them as:

“a multitude of different colored rays . . . radiating out in finely drawn lines, the places made by the divergence again and again filled in.”

The finished robe could be worn over the shoulders, with the hair side down and the painted design displayed outward. Smithwick's observations offer a glimpse into the considerable skill, labor, and artistic ability involved in transforming an animal hide into both a practical garment and a work of art.

George Catlin, Comanche Village, Women Dressing Robes and Drying Meat, 1834–1835. Oil on canvas. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C., gift of Mrs. Joseph Harrison, Jr. Additional information from the Texas State Historical Association and Stanley Noyes, Los Comanches: The Horse People, 1751–1845.

When we hear the term “Indian Wars,” it can be easy to imagine that every interaction between U.S. Army soldiers and Nat...
08/13/2026

When we hear the term “Indian Wars,” it can be easy to imagine that every interaction between U.S. Army soldiers and Native peoples was defined by conflict. The reality was much more complicated.

A soldier’s perception of Native peoples could be shaped long before he ever encountered them. Veteran soldiers sometimes entertained new recruits, the “fresh fish," with exaggerated and frightening stories of Native attacks and “depredations.”

Alson B. Ostrander, a soldier in the 18th Infantry, later recalled his experience traveling the Bozeman Trail in 1866: “My courage had gradually oozed out while I listened to the blood curdling tales the old-timers recited.”

Those stories could have a real impact. One Army commander in Dakota Territory observed that many new soldiers became so frightened by exaggerated reports that they were more concerned with avoiding Native peoples than fighting them.

But these stories could obscure the much more complicated relationships that developed on the frontier. Soldiers and Native peoples could find themselves in situations involving trade, diplomacy, scouting, communication, and even personal relationships, while conflict and violence were also taking place.

Here at Fort Martin Scott, soldiers lived on a frontier where their interactions with Native peoples were part of everyday life. Understanding that history means looking beyond the simple idea of “soldiers versus Indians” and recognizing the complicated human relationships that existed along the Texas frontier.

History is rarely as simple as the labels we give it.

Both of the photos are paintings by Captain Seth Eastman.

When we think about the Civil War, we often picture the great battles fought far from Texas. But the war created deep di...
08/12/2026

When we think about the Civil War, we often picture the great battles fought far from Texas. But the war created deep divisions right here in Gillespie County.

Most German settlers of the Fredericksburg area were overwhelmingly opposed to secession and remained loyal to the Union. Many hoped to remain neutral, but the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Texas in 1861 left the frontier without the protection they had depended upon.

As the war continued, Gillespie County struggled to raise Confederate volunteers. Many local men were willing to serve in frontier defense companies, where they could protect their homes and families, but were reluctant to serve in the Confederate Army elsewhere. In fact, the county eventually had six local defense companies with more than 300 men combined.
And here at Fort Martin Scott, the story became especially interesting.

In 1862, the fort became a gathering place for Confederate volunteers from several counties. Colonel J. M. Morris was ordered to raise a regiment, with Gillespie, Hays, and Kerr counties expected to provide a portion of the men. Once enough volunteers assembled at the fort, they were marched into Fredericksburg and formally sworn into service.

But not everyone who gathered at Fort Martin Scott was enthusiastic about the Confederate cause. The source notes that relatively few of the men accepted at Fredericksburg were actually from Gillespie County, reflecting the strong Unionist sentiment among the local German population.

The Civil War wasn't simply a conflict happening somewhere else. It divided communities, families, and neighbors—and here in Gillespie County, those divisions played out in very real ways.
Fort Martin Scott wasn't just a frontier military post. During the Civil War, it became part of the complicated story of a community caught between Union, Confederacy, and the need simply to protect home.



Photo: The Nimitz Hotel- One of the oldest existing buildings in town. This structure would see the tense times in Fredericksburg during the Civil War era.

When the U.S. Army moved onto the Texas frontier in 1848, one of its greatest challenges was not fighting...it was logis...
08/11/2026

When the U.S. Army moved onto the Texas frontier in 1848, one of its greatest challenges was not fighting...it was logistics.

The Army needed a constant flow of food, ammunition, clothing, forage, and other supplies moving from the coast to scattered frontier posts like Fort Martin Scott. In the early years, the Quartermaster’s Department relied heavily on its own wagons and teams of mules. But Quartermaster General Thomas S. Jesup argued that hiring civilian freighters would be cheaper and more efficient. The Texas department commander, Col. Persifor F. Smith, fully supported the move toward civilian teamsters. He reported in 1852 that soldier wagoner’s were unreliable because “they get drunk, neglect their animals.”

The Army’s wagon trains were expensive to maintain. Wagons and mules had to be purchased, repaired, and fed, while soldiers were taken away from their military duties to serve as teamsters. One officer estimated that simply feeding the draft animals could account for 40 percent of the cost of a freight expedition.

By 1849, San Antonio had become a major Quartermaster depot for the Texas frontier. From there, government wagon trains traveled the rough roads of Texas carrying supplies to distant military posts. In 1851, the depot maintained 115 wagons, 344 mules, 125 horses, and 128 teamsters. Those teams made an average of 18 trips during the year and hauled approximately 1.9 million pounds of supplies.

Even that wasn't enough. Civilian freighters had to be hired to help keep the frontier supplied.

For soldiers at Fort Martin Scott, these supply trains were a lifeline. Every sack of flour, box of salted beef, bundle of clothing, and piece of equipment had to make the journey across hundreds of miles of difficult Texas roads.

The next time you visit Fort Martin Scott, remember that the story of the frontier wasn't just about soldiers and battles. It was also about the enormous logistical effort required to keep those soldiers fed, clothed, armed, and supplied.



Photo: [Army Wagon Train], postcard, (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth187701/
Quartermaster Routes from Thomas S. Smiths books called "The US Army & the Texas Frontier Economy"

As August arrives, it's time to look back at the long and colorful history of the Gillespie County Fair! For well over a...
08/05/2026

As August arrives, it's time to look back at the long and colorful history of the Gillespie County Fair! For well over a century, the fair has brought together the people of Gillespie County with livestock shows, horse racing, exhibits, music, and plenty of unforgettable entertainment.

One of the more unusual entertainers to visit the fairgrounds was none other than Bozo the Clown, "The World's Most Famous Clown." Created in 1946, Bozo quickly became a household name across America. By 1949, he had made the leap to television, where local performers across the country brought the cheerful clown to life for generations of children. Bozo The Clown would come out to in 1949, 1950 and 1951 to the County Fair.

Bozo's appearance at the Gillespie County Fair is a reminder that the fair has always been more than just an agricultural exhibition. It has been a place where families gathered to laugh, celebrate, and make memories together.

Do you remember seeing Bozo at the Gillespie County Fair? We'd love to hear your memories, or see any old photos you might have from past fairs!

Photos: Fredericksburg Standard August 8-22, 1951.

Few people have had a greater impact on America than Frederick Law Olmsted, yet many have never heard his name. Best kno...
07/30/2026

Few people have had a greater impact on America than Frederick Law Olmsted, yet many have never heard his name. Best known as the designer of New York City's Central Park, the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, Boston's Emerald Necklace, and the campus of the University of California, Berkeley, Olmsted was also one of the keenest observers of Texas in the 1850s.

Before becoming America's most celebrated landscape architect, Olmsted tried farming and then turned to travel writing. In 1854, he journeyed across Texas, documenting what he saw in a series of newspaper articles later published as A Journey Through Texas in 1857.

Traveling under the pen name "Yeoman," Olmsted examined everything from frontier settlements and military posts to agriculture, slavery, and the state's rugged landscapes. A strong opponent of slavery, he argued that it was not only morally wrong but economically inefficient, believing that an economy built on forced labor ultimately harmed both enslaved people and slaveholders while stifling growth and investment.
Olmsted also became one of Texas' earliest, and perhaps toughest, food critics.

At one East Texas cabin, he was served cold salt pork, cornbread, molasses, and milk. He happily drank the milk but left the rest untouched. In Austin, he described one restaurant meal as consisting of "burnt flesh of bulls and swine, decaying vegetables... drowned in rancid butter." Needless to say, he wasn't impressed.
Not every meal disappointed him. In New Braunfels, he enjoyed a German meal that reminded him of the Rhine Valley. He also found the butter for his coffee, something he was in search of for his entire trip. While in South Texas he praised tortillas, tamales, and refried beans as "wholesome, nourishing and extremely cheap." Long before Tex-Mex became famous, Olmsted recognized its appeal.

Although his opinions could be blunt, Olmsted's writing captured Texas with remarkable honesty. His vivid descriptions of the frontier, its people, and its natural beauty offer an invaluable glimpse into the world that soldiers stationed at Fort Martin Scott would have known.

Today, A Journey Through Texas remains one of the finest firsthand accounts of frontier Texas, a fascinating read for anyone interested in the state's history. We might enjoy sitting down to hear Olmsted's stories... just perhaps not over a plate of bacon, beans, and cornbread.

Photos: Frederick Law Olmsted in 1850 and an illustration from his book "Journey Through Texas" that has men setting up camp.

The Grimsley Dragoon Saddle was the standard U.S. Army saddle from the Mexican-American War (1846–1848) through the earl...
07/29/2026

The Grimsley Dragoon Saddle was the standard U.S. Army saddle from the Mexican-American War (1846–1848) through the early years of the Civil War. Officially adopted in 1847, it served both enlisted mounted troops and officers until it was replaced by the McClellan saddle in 1859.

Designed by saddle maker John Grimsley, the saddle featured a double-skirted design with a quilted leather seat for improved comfort during long hours in the saddle. Its wooden tree was encased in wet rawhide, a major innovation for the time, which made it exceptionally strong and far more resistant to the wear and abuse of frontier campaigning than earlier military saddles. Despite its durability, it was considerably lighter than the Ringgold saddle it replaced.

The Grimsley saddle utilized quarter horse bars on a true 14-inch tree. The rawhide-covered tree was wrapped in black collar leather, while the double skirts served two practical purposes: the underskirts protected the horse from the girth buckles, and the outer skirts shielded the rider's clothing from sweat and friction.
Although officially replaced by the McClellan saddle in 1859, many officers chose to keep using their trusted Grimsley saddles throughout the Civil War. Notable commanders such as Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman reportedly continued riding Grimsley saddles during the conflict, a testament to their comfort, durability, and proven performance in the field.

For Dragoons stationed at frontier posts like Fort Martin Scott, the Grimsley saddle represented a significant improvement in military equipment. Built to withstand thousands of miles of hard riding across the rugged Texas frontier, it became one of the most dependable pieces of cavalry equipment used by the U.S. Army during the mid-19th century.

Photos: Far side and near side views of what the Grimsley's Saddle set up looks like.

When most people think of the Alamo, they picture the famous battle of 1836. But did you know that just over a decade la...
07/21/2026

When most people think of the Alamo, they picture the famous battle of 1836. But did you know that just over a decade later, the Alamo became one of the most important military supply depots on the Texas frontier?

During the 1850s, the U.S. Army's Quartermaster Department leased the old mission from the Catholic Church and went to work transforming the weathered ruins into a functioning military installation. Former mission rooms became warehouses for quartermaster stores, ordnance, and medical supplies, while nearby grounds housed workshops, stables, and mule yards. From the Alamo, wagons loaded with food, uniforms, ammunition, forage, and equipment rolled out across Texas to supply frontier forts.

One of those forts was Fort Martin Scott.

Established in 1848 as the first U.S. Army post on the Texas frontier, Fort Martin Scott depended on this growing supply network. The Quartermaster Department ensured that soldiers stationed here received the provisions needed to patrol the frontier, es**rt mail routes, and protect the growing settlements of the Texas Hill Country. Everything from clothing and tools to wagons and mule harnesses likely passed through the Alamo before making its way to Fredericksburg.

The Alamo wasn't just the site of a legendary battle, it remained an essential part of Texas military history long afterward. Its role as a quartermaster depot helped keep frontier forts like Fort Martin Scott operating during the challenging years of westward expansion.

Sometimes history isn't just about where the fighting happened, it's about the people and places that kept an army moving.

Photos:
-Alamo in 1848 when Seth Eastman passes through San Antonio on his way to Fredericksburg area to establish Fort Martin Scott (Camp Houston as original name for the site)

-Alamo in 1868 with wagon in front when it was a quartermaster depot storehouse.

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1606 E Main Street
Fredericksburg, TX
78624

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

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