Fort Elliott, Military fort in Wheeler County, Texas, United States
Fort Elliott is a former military installation in the Texas Panhandle that occupies a plateau overlooking a creek valley. The site contains scattered remains and historical markers indicating where key structures once stood and how the post was organized.
The post was established in 1875 to guard settlers and monitor the frontier with Indian Territory until closing in 1890. During these 15 years, it served as a key military presence in a rapidly changing region.
The site holds significance for the African American soldiers who served here and shaped the region's safety and development during their time. Visitors can observe how their presence is remembered through historical markers scattered across the grounds.
Fort Elliott stood twenty-seven miles west of Indian Territory near the headwaters of Sweetwater Creek, in what is now Wheeler County, Texas. The town of Mobeetie grew beside the post, so approach the site through that community and look for the ground where the temporary post of 3 February 1875 was replaced by the permanent location on 5 June 1875.
Lieutenant Henry O. Flipper, the first African American graduate of West Point, served at this post and left a mark on its history. His assignment here represents an important chapter in the story of African American military officers.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,744 contributors worldwide.