Fort Chadbourne, Historic military fort in Coke County, Texas
Fort Chadbourne is a military installation set across roughly 55 acres between Abilene and San Angelo with restored structures from its active years. The grounds contain officers' quarters, original military buildings, and a visitor center displaying firearms, cannons, and objects uncovered during site excavations.
The Army built the installation in 1852 to defend settlers and the western frontier from raids. It gradually lost military importance and was abandoned in 1867 before the property passed to private owners who maintained the structures.
The site served as a crucial stop for stagecoach travel connecting distant settlements across the region. Today the standing buildings speak to the movement of people and goods that linked remote communities together.
The site sits on a rural road outside Bronte and is easily reached by car from both larger towns nearby. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes since exploring the grounds involves walking between different buildings and open areas.
A single family has cared for and restored the grounds in private ownership since the late 1800s. This long-term commitment made extensive preservation work possible that would have been difficult to achieve otherwise.
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