The Fort Leaton State Historic Site is located on Farm to Market Road 170, in Presidio County in the U.S. state of Texas. The original adobe structure was a private residence dating back to the early 19th century. It was purchased in 1848 by Benjamin Leaton, who adapted it as a fortress. Fort Leaton was the Presidio County original seat of government. Through murders, financial difficulties and abandonment, the structure changed hands numerous times. In 1967, it was deeded to the state of Texas and opened to the public in 1978 as a Texas State Historic Site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings in Presidio County, Texas on June 18, 1973.
Fort Leaton is believed to have been built as an adobe residence in the 1830s by Juan Bustillos. In 1848, it was acquired by Benjamin Leaton, who lived in the structure and also used it as his trading post and fortress.[2]
Benjamin Leaton was a trader, freight hauler along the Chihuahua Trail, and a bounty hunter paid by various local governments in Mexico for each scalp taken from an indigenous person. He also traded munitions to the Apache and Comanche for any stolen cattle they brought him.[3] When Presidio County was established in 1850, Fort Leaton was its first seat of government.[4] Leaton died in 1851,[5] and his widow married Edward Hall who continued operating the freight business from the fort. Hall became financially indebted to Leaton's scalp hunting partner John Burgess. Hall defaulted on his debt to Burgess in 1864, and was murdered. Burgess took over the fort, and was in turn murdered by Leaton's son in 1875. The Burgess family remained in the fort until they abandoned it in 1926.[6] The fort was purchased by Marfa State Bank and a private citizen in the 1930s and donated to Presidio County. An attempt at restoration was begun, but adequate financing never materialized. The site was then purchased by a private citizen and donated to the state of Texas. In 1968, the site was designated Fort Leaton State Historic Site.[2] It opened to the public in 1978.[7]
Fort Leaton was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings in Presidio County, Texas on June 18, 1973.[8]
Facilitiesedit
Fort Leaton State Historic Site is on Farm to Market Road 170, 5 miles (8.0 km) southeast of Presidio, Texas.[7]
The site contains historic ruins, nature trails, and exhibits. There is a picnic area and public restrooms. The Texas State Park Store gift shop is located on the grounds.[7]
The Barton Warnock Environmental Education Center serves as the visitor center for both Ft. Leaton State Historic Site and Big Bend Ranch State Park.[9]
Wireless Internet Access (Wi-Fi) is available in some areas of this site.[10]
Hours, admissionedit
Fort Leaton is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 7 days a week, but closed on Christmas Day.[7]
Entrance fee applies. Special event rental fees by prior arrangement. Guided tours are available for an additional fee. Group tours need to be coordinated in advance with the Park.[7]
^ abSmith, Julia Cauble. "Ft. Leaton State Historic Site". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
^Laine, Don; Laine, Barbara; Olson, Jack; Peterson, Eric; Christensen, Shane (2010). Frommer's National Parks of the American West. Frommer's. pp. 50, 51. ISBN978-0-470-53767-1.
^Smith, Julia Cauble. "Presidio County". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
^Field, Ron; Hook, Adam (2006). Forts of the American Frontier 1820–91: The Southern Plains and Southwest. Osprey Publishing. p. 18. ISBN978-1-84603-040-6.
^Parent, Laurence (2008). Official Guide to Texas State Parks and Historic Sites: Revised Edition. University of Texas Press. pp. xxviii, xxix. ISBN978-0-292-71726-8.
^ abcde"Fort Leaton State Historic Site". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
^"NRHP Ft Leaton". Texas Historical Association. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
^"Barton Warnock Visitor Center". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
^"TPWD Wi-Fi Access". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fort Leaton.
TPWD Fort Leaton official site
April 13, 2024
fort, leaton, state, historic, site, located, farm, market, road, presidio, county, state, texas, original, adobe, structure, private, residence, dating, back, early, 19th, century, purchased, 1848, benjamin, leaton, adapted, fortress, fort, leaton, presidio, . The Fort Leaton State Historic Site is located on Farm to Market Road 170 in Presidio County in the U S state of Texas The original adobe structure was a private residence dating back to the early 19th century It was purchased in 1848 by Benjamin Leaton who adapted it as a fortress Fort Leaton was the Presidio County original seat of government Through murders financial difficulties and abandonment the structure changed hands numerous times In 1967 it was deeded to the state of Texas and opened to the public in 1978 as a Texas State Historic Site It was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings in Presidio County Texas on June 18 1973 Fort LeatonU S National Register of Historic PlacesTexas State Historic SiteFort LeatonFort LeatonShow map of TexasFort LeatonShow map of the United StatesLocationPresidio County TexasNearest cityPresidio TexasCoordinates29 32 33 N 104 19 35 W 29 54250 N 104 32639 W 29 54250 104 32639Area23 4 acres 9 5 ha Built1848Built byBenjamin LeatonWebsitetpwd wbr texas wbr gov wbr state parks wbr fort leatonNRHP reference No 73001972 1 Significant datesAdded to NRHPJune 18 1973Designated TSHSDecember 8 1967 Contents 1 History 2 Facilities 3 Hours admission 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editFort Leaton is believed to have been built as an adobe residence in the 1830s by Juan Bustillos In 1848 it was acquired by Benjamin Leaton who lived in the structure and also used it as his trading post and fortress 2 Benjamin Leaton was a trader freight hauler along the Chihuahua Trail and a bounty hunter paid by various local governments in Mexico for each scalp taken from an indigenous person He also traded munitions to the Apache and Comanche for any stolen cattle they brought him 3 When Presidio County was established in 1850 Fort Leaton was its first seat of government 4 Leaton died in 1851 5 and his widow married Edward Hall who continued operating the freight business from the fort Hall became financially indebted to Leaton s scalp hunting partner John Burgess Hall defaulted on his debt to Burgess in 1864 and was murdered Burgess took over the fort and was in turn murdered by Leaton s son in 1875 The Burgess family remained in the fort until they abandoned it in 1926 6 The fort was purchased by Marfa State Bank and a private citizen in the 1930s and donated to Presidio County An attempt at restoration was begun but adequate financing never materialized The site was then purchased by a private citizen and donated to the state of Texas In 1968 the site was designated Fort Leaton State Historic Site 2 It opened to the public in 1978 7 Fort Leaton was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings in Presidio County Texas on June 18 1973 8 Facilities editFort Leaton State Historic Site is on Farm to Market Road 170 5 miles 8 0 km southeast of Presidio Texas 7 The site contains historic ruins nature trails and exhibits There is a picnic area and public restrooms The Texas State Park Store gift shop is located on the grounds 7 The Barton Warnock Environmental Education Center serves as the visitor center for both Ft Leaton State Historic Site and Big Bend Ranch State Park 9 Wireless Internet Access Wi Fi is available in some areas of this site 10 Hours admission editFort Leaton is open 8 a m to 4 30 p m 7 days a week but closed on Christmas Day 7 Entrance fee applies Special event rental fees by prior arrangement Guided tours are available for an additional fee Group tours need to be coordinated in advance with the Park 7 See also edit nbsp National Register of Historic Places portal nbsp Texas portalMuseums in West Texas National Register of Historic Places listings in Presidio County TexasReferences edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 a b Smith Julia Cauble Ft Leaton State Historic Site Handbook of Texas Online Texas State Historical Association Retrieved 7 February 2012 Laine Don Laine Barbara Olson Jack Peterson Eric Christensen Shane 2010 Frommer s National Parks of the American West Frommer s pp 50 51 ISBN 978 0 470 53767 1 Smith Julia Cauble Presidio County Handbook of Texas Online Texas State Historical Association Retrieved 7 February 2012 Field Ron Hook Adam 2006 Forts of the American Frontier 1820 91 The Southern Plains and Southwest Osprey Publishing p 18 ISBN 978 1 84603 040 6 Parent Laurence 2008 Official Guide to Texas State Parks and Historic Sites Revised Edition University of Texas Press pp xxviii xxix ISBN 978 0 292 71726 8 a b c d e Fort Leaton State Historic Site Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Retrieved 7 February 2012 NRHP Ft Leaton Texas Historical Association Retrieved 7 February 2012 Barton Warnock Visitor Center Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Retrieved 9 February 2012 TPWD Wi Fi Access Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Retrieved 8 February 2012 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fort Leaton TPWD Fort Leaton official site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fort Leaton State Historic Site amp oldid 1164024201, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
