Fort LeatonState Historic Site - Texas |
The Fort Leaton State Historic Site is located on Farm to Market Road 170, in Presidio County, 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.
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.
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Discovery Map of Big Bend Ranch State Park (SP) in Texas. Published by Texas Parks & Wildlife.
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Interpretive Guide of Fort Leaton State Historic Site (SHS) in Texas. Published by Texas Parks & Wildlife.
Self Guided Tour to Fort Leaton State Historic Site (SHS) in Texas. Published by Texas Parks & Wildlife.
Official Texas State Parks Guide. Published by Texas Parks & Wildlife.
Official Texas State Parks Guide (español). Published by Texas Parks & Wildlife.
Fort Leaton SHS
https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/fort-leaton
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Leaton_State_Historic_Site
The Fort Leaton State Historic Site is located on Farm to Market Road 170, in Presidio County, 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.
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.
Folklorico dancers at Fort Leaton.
INTERPRETIVE GUIDE
LARGEST AND FINEST HISTORIC
Fort Leaton State Historic Site is day-use only and offers picnicking areas, a nature trail, guided tours, plus exhibits on the
area’s history from late prehistoric times through the present.
The site also hosts several special events throughout the year
and serves as the venue for many community activities.
ADOBE STRUCTURES IN TEXAS!
FURTHER READING
FORT LEATON STATE HISTORIC
The River Has Never Divided Us by Jefferson Morgenthaler.
WELCOME TO ONE OF THE
SITE PROVIDES A GLIMPSE OF
Rio Grande by Jan Reid.
LIFE AT A FORTIFIED TRADING
Marfa
POST ON THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER
67
BEGINNING IN THE TURBULENT
Presidio
MID-1800s. THE SITE CONVEYS
A LARGER STORY AS WELL—
THAT OF THE VIRTUAL PARADE
OF PEOPLE AND CULTURES THAT
HAVE LONG INHABITED THE
REGION KNOWN AS LA JUNTA DE
Alpine
Marathon
90
118
385
Fort Leaton
170 Terlingua
State Historic Site
MEXICO
MEXICO
For more information, visit or contact:
Fort Leaton State Historic Site
Four miles east of Presidio on FM 170
P.O. Box 2439, Presidio, Texas 79845
(432) 229-3613
www.tpwd.texas.gov/fortleaton
LOS RIOS. OH, THE TALES THIS
SITE COULD TELL …
© 2019 TPWD. PWD BR P4501-091C (7/19)
In accordance with Texas State Depository Law, this publication is available at
the Texas State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries.
TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender,
pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone
(TTY) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989 or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and
Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041.
Texas State Parks is a division of the
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
FORT
LEATON
STATE HISTORIC SITE
F O R T
L E A T O N
S T A T E
H I S T O R I C
S I T E
LA JUNTA DE LOS RIOS
THE EARLY DAYS
The story of Fort Leaton begins in Chihuahua City,
Mexico. There, Juana Pedrasa met Ben Leaton sometime
between 1833 and 1840. In 1848 the couple and their
three children moved to the La Junta District on the
Rio Grande, where Pedrasa owned land. They purchased
additional acreage and fortified existing adobe structures
into the square-shaped compound known today as
Fort Leaton, which served as a home, trading post on the
Chihuahua Trail, and private fortification. The Leaton
family and their visitors—explorers, soldiers, traders,
freighters, native Americans and Anglo settlers alike—
sought protection here against Native American raids
and attacks by borderland outlaws.
A handful of journal entries provide a glimpse of life at
Fort Leaton in its early days. In 1848, 70 men led
by John Coffee Hays traveled from San Antonio to the
Big Bend area on a mapping expedition. Today that trip
would take about seven hours, but in 1848 it took two
months! Imagine how welcome the relative safety and
comfort of Fort Leaton must have seemed after such
an arduous journey. The expedition purchased horses,
mules and other supplies at the fort.
T
he same qualities that drew Ben Leaton and
Juana Pedrasa to the area have attracted countless others over the centuries. The region known
as La Junta de los Rios, named for the nearby confluence
of the Rio Conchos and Rio Grande, contributes two
all-important resources: water and fertile floodplain soils.
Carretas were used to move freight on the Chihuahua Trail.
The following year, Lt. William H.C. Whiting and party arrived
at Fort Leaton while exploring a military route between
San Antonio and Santa Fe. By this time Leaton owned two
slaves, employed eight to 10 workers and maintained extensive
farming operations. Whiting referred to the fort as “one of the
most important places on the Rio Grande” due to its position as
the lone defensive outpost and supply station along a 450-mile
stretch of river. He also commented on the exorbitant prices
being charged. Although Leaton was widely known as a
scoundrel, Whiting praised his hospitality. Leaton treated the
party to an enormous meal including stewed chicken with
chilies, roasted turkey, tortillas, frijoles, coffee and homemade
peach brandy.
As long as 800 years ago, Native American farmers
raising corn, beans and squash lived here in permanent
villages while conducting extensive trade. Over time
La Junta witnessed a flow of diverse cultures and
individuals from all walks of life as the region passed
through governance by four countries: Spain, Mexico,
the Republic of Texas and, finally, the United States.
Due to its rich history and relative isolation, the region
continues to maintain a unique
GUARDROOM AND “DUNGEON”
Local lore states that both Ben Leaton and John Burgess
operated a “dungeon” where they incarcerated debtors. While
the front room may have been used as a guardroom, the back
room has one door and air vents located high on the walls. Was
this design intended to prevent prisoners from escaping? Can
you think of any other uses for these peculiar rooms?
BLACKSMITH SHOP
Blacksmiths were the mechanics of the 19th century, shoeing
horses and outfitting wagons. This space and the two rooms to
the north were tack rooms where various metal implements
were crafted.
UNRESTORED ROOMS
These rooms are left unfinished to preserve a historic viewshed
and provide insight to what Fort Leaton looked like prior to
restoration. Several of these rooms functioned as holding pens
for stock animals and one contained a watertight trough
system that may have been used for bathing. At least two of
the rooms contained household trash pits, which provide
important information for archeologists.
S E L F- GU I D E D TO U R
FORT
LEATON
State Historic Site
BIG BEND RANCH
STATE PARK COMPLEX
WELCOME TO FORT LEATON STATE HISTORIC SITE
You are standing in a reconstructed fortification that served as a trading post on the Chihuahua Trail from 1848-1884. Fort Leaton
is situated in La Junta de los Rios, a remote and isolated floodplain located in el Despoblado— a nickname for the Big Bend
region which means “the uninhabited place.” In 1848, La Junta became a borderland recently acquired by the United States.
CHRONOLOGY OF KEY EVENTS
1848
Ben Leaton and Juana Pedrasa acquire the property,
expand buildings, and open the trading post.
1848-1851
Travelers, including military and exploratory expeditions,
visit Fort Leaton.
1851
Ben Leaton dies; his family continues living in Fort Leaton.
1852
Juana Pedrasa marries Edward Hall. They continue to
operate the trading post.
1862
Artifacts
collected at
Fort Leaton
Edward Hall defaults on the Burgess loan, refusing to vacate
the fort. Burgess’ son murders Hall. Burgess family expands
the structure and operates the trading post until 1884.
1925-1927
Burgess family sells the property and abandons the site.
GRANARY
This room was used as a storehouse for grain and goods that
were sold to travelers journeying along the Chihuahua Trail.
The large doors make this room accessible to carretas.
MAUSOLEUM AND CEMETERY
First erected as a chapel by the Burgess family in the 1920s, the
mausoleum contains the remains of John D. Burgess and
Thomasa Baeza Burgess.
THE STORY CONTINUES …
Each rainfall reveals new artifacts at Fort Leaton. Pottery sherds
are the most common items recovered. If you find an artifact,
please practice Leave No Trace™ ethics. Leave the piece of history
where you found it and report it to a ranger for further research.
Artifacts are plotted on a site map to determine dispersion patterns.
www.tpwd.texas.gov
© 2023 TPWD. PWD BR P4501-091D (4/23)
TPWD receives funds from DHS and USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination
based on race, color, religion, national origin (including limited English
proficiency), disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law.
If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, visit tpwd.
texas.gov/nondiscrimination or call (512) 389-4800 for information on filing a complaint. To
obtain information in an alternative format, contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512)
389-8915, by Relay Texas at 7-1-1, (800) 735-2989, or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.
gov. If you speak a language other than English and need assistance, email lep@tpwd.texas.
gov. You can also contact Department of the Interior Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Civil
Rights, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240, and/or U.S. Department of Homeland
Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), Mail Stop #0190 2707, Martin
Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20528.
Adobe brick
making during
restoration
1936
The Historic American Buildings Survey is completed.
The State of Texas erects monuments on site.
1940
Works Progress Administration conducts excavations
and produces measured drawings.
1967-1969
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department acquires the
site and conducts restoration work before opening the
site to the public in 1978.
ADOBE CONSTRUCTION
Fort Leaton is a “living structure”—it is always changing!
The fort was constructed from the materials available in
La Junta: earth, grass, water, rock, and wood. Adoberos
created their own building supplies.
The fort’s walls vary in height from 18-22 feet and are comprised
of large sun-dried adobe bricks sealed with mud plaster. Built
to retain heat in the winter and cool air in the summer, the
mud walls range in thickness from 18-44 inches. The adobe
bricks—a mixture of straw, water, and clay—were cast in
wooden forms. After setting, the adobes were removed from
the forms to dry in the hot desert sun. Interior walls were
plastered and finished with a heavy coat
-Official-
FACILITIES
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T O Y O T A
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CONTENTS
4 100 Years of Texas Parks
6 Parks Near You
8
90 Checklist
DIRECTORY
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT
52
68
20
38
60
30
84
68
David Yoskowitz, Ph.D. Executive Director
Rodney Franklin State Parks Director
Mischelle Diaz Communications Director
TPW COMMISSION
Arch “Beaver” Aplin, III, Chairman
Lake Jackson
Dick Scott, Vice-Chairman Wimberley
James E. Abell Kilgore
Oliver J. Bell Cleveland
Paul L. Foster El Paso
Anna B. Galo Laredo
Jeffery D. Hildebrand Houston
Robert L. “Bobby” Patton, Jr. Fort Worth
Travis B. “Blake” Rowling Dallas
T. Dan Friedkin, Chairman-Emeritus Houston
Lee Marshall Bass, Chairman-Emeritus Fort Worth
52 Panhandle
Plains
48 State Parks Map
Special thanks to Toyota and advertisers, whose
generous support made this guide possible.
Texas State Parks is a division of the Texas Parks
and Wildlife Department.
Cover illustration: Brad Woodard, bravethewoods.com
Texas State Parks Official Guide, Nineteenth Edition © TPWD PWD BK P4000-000A (3/23)
TPWD receives funds from DHS and USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin (including limited English
proficiency), disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, visit tpwd.texas.
gov/nondiscrimination or call (512) 389-4800 for information on filing a complaint. To obtain information in an alternative format, contact TPWD on a Text
Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915, by Relay Texas at 7-1-1, (800) 735-2989, or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you speak a language other than
English and need assistance, email lep@tpwd.texas.gov. You can also contact Department of the Interior Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Civil Rights, 1849 C
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240, and/or U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), Mail Stop #0190 2707,
Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20528.
In accordance with Texas State Depository Law, this publication is available at the Texas State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas
Depository Libraries.
WELCOME
from Rodney Franklin, State Parks Director
This year is very special for Texas State Parks: We are
celebrating our 100-year anniversary in 2023. More and
more Texans are discovering the beauty of State Parks and
exploring the outdoors in new and adventurous ways. Our
teams across the state are incredibly excited to welcome
outdoor enthusiasts, especially those who have yet to
discover what our parks have to offer. The variety of Texas’ lands is unmatched; from
the mountains of west Texas to the Gulf shores, the Texas State Park system celebrates
and preserves the natural and cultural treasures that make Texas such a special place.
The 640,000-plus acres that make up the state park system are nearly as diverse as
the people of Texas. Since 1923, our mission has been to help connect our visitors with
the outdoors. As we honor those who have come before us, I invite a new generation to
be a part of the story of the lands that connect us all.
There is more to enjoy in our parks than you know, so please join us in our celebrations
and activities. Every day we look for new and better ways to ensure your state parks are
welcoming to every Texan, regardless of their background or experience being outside.
I hope you’ll visit soon and often, while bringing
your friends and family along. YOU are a natural and
we’re looking forward to celebrating the 100-year
anniversary of state parks with you!
WHAT’S NEW IN STATE PARKS
Galveston Island State Park reopened the
beachside of the park with a new headquarters,
campsites, restrooms, and more.
Bastrop State Park unveiled an extensive new
group of trails, the “Tree Army Trails,” many of
which are ADA-accessible.
Improvements and major repairs are planned for
Indian Lodge, Tyler, Inks Lake, Cedar Hill, South
Llano River, Eisenhower and several other state parks
All-terrain “GRIT” wheelchairs are now available at 10 parks with more adaptive
equipment on the way to help people of all abilities experience Texas State
Parks. Learn more about our accessibility efforts, page 14.
More information: TexasStateParks.org/whatsnew
100 Years of Texas Parks
The crown jewels of
Texas road trips started
as an unfunded wish list
before the Depression.
Back in 1923, Governor Pat Neff realized
rising numbers of new car travelers
needed places to camp overnight on
multi-day trips. Neff convinced the state
legislature to create a six-member State
Parks Board, half men, half women.
Isabella, the Governor’s mother, and her
family donated acreage on the Leon
Guía de
Parques
INSTALACIONES
Descarga la
Aplicacíon Móvil
MAPAS
ACTIVIDADES
texasstateparks.org/app
¡Los niños
entran gratis!
La entrada es gratis para los niños de
12 años y menores.
Encuentra un parque:
parquesdetexas.org
Contenido
Estero Llano Grande SP
2 Actividades y Programas
4 Parques Cercanos
6 Lugares para Quedarse
8 Tarifas y Pases
9 Directorio
10 Mapa de Parques
18 Instalaciones y Actividades
BIENVENIDO
Rodney Franklin, Director de Parques
Texas tiene algunas de las tierras públicas más diversas del país, con una
gran riqueza natural y cultural. La vida silvestre está por todas partes,
los paisajes florecen con belleza, y la historia es abundante. Sus parques
estatales son parte del legado que nos enorgullece. La gente de Texas ayuda a asegurar ese
legado para las generaciones futuras al visitar y ser voluntarios. ¡Gracias!
Estos más de 630,000 acres exhiben algunos de los grandes tesoros del estado. Los parques
nos ayudan a crear recuerdos con la familia y a encontrar consuelo en la naturaleza. Los
parques fortalecen las economías locales y unen a las comunidades. Sobre todo, los parques
nos permiten pasar tiempo al aire libre para recargar energías, estar saludables y relajarnos a
nuestra manera.
Les invito a disfrutar de sus parques estatales,
explorando lo mejor de Texas con amigos y familia. Los
parques están aquí para todos. Nos pertenecen a todos.
¡Visítelos, diviértase y ayude a protegerlos para siempre!
Foto de portada: Estero Llano State Park, Chase Fountain
© 2021 TPWD PWD BK P4000-000A (5/21)
TPWD recibe fondos del Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de EE.UU. (USFWS
por sus siglas en ingles). TPWD prohíbe la discriminación por raza, color, religión,
nacionalidad de origen, discapacidad, edad y género, conforme la ley estatal y
federal. Para solicitar un acomodo especial u obtener información en un formato
alternativo, por favor contacte a TPWD en un Teléfono de Texto (TTY) al (512) 3898915 ó por medio de “Relay Texas” al 7-1-1 ó (800) 735-2989 ó por email a accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. Si usted cree que TPWD ha discriminado en su contra, favor
de comunicarse con TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, o con el
Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de EE.UU., Office for Diversity and Workforce
Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041.
De acuerdo con la Ley de Depósito del Estado de Texas, esta publicación está disponible en el centro de Distribución de Publicaciones del Estado de Texas y/o las
Bibliotecas de Depósito de Texas.
ACTIVIDADES Y PROGRAMAS
¿Qué puedo hacer en
los parques estatales?
¡Disfruta de un día de campo, visita un sitio histórico
o elige entre muchas otras opciones!
Bicicletas
Pedalea a lo largo de los
parques a cualquier velocidad,
en cualquier estilo, con cualquier grupo. Elige las rutas, el
tipo de terreno y las distancias que cumplan con tu zona
de confort.
Caminatas
Empieza con un circuito más
corto, avanza a terrenos más
difíciles o únete a una caminata guiada.
Pescar
Puedes pescar sin licencia en
tantos como 70 parques estatales. Muchos parques ofrecen
equipo para pescar a manera
de préstamo y eventos especiales para aprender a pescar.
Barcos
Renta canoas y kayacs y
explora uno de los senderos
acuáticos en Texas.
Nadar
Animales Silvestres
Acampar
Descubre aves, mamíferos y
plantas que tienen su hogar en
Texas. Muchos parques tienen
señalamientos y listados que
te ayudan a aprender más.
Encuentra un lugar que cumpla
con lo que quieres. Prueba
nuevas recetas, comparte historias favoritas y disfruta de
las estrellas.
2
Más información y reservaciones: parquesdetexas.org
Escape del calor en arroyos,
ríos, lagos, manantiales, piletas
y playas del mar.
Tu seguridad en el agua
es muy importante. Lleva
el chaleco salvavidas.
Aprende a nadar. Guarda
a los niños.
(512) 389-8900
¡Pregunta en tu parque cuáles
están disponibles!
Los niños
de 12 años
y menores
entran
GRATIS
Cielos Estrellados
Escapa de las luces de la ciudad y goza de
maravillosas vistas del cielo que no encontrarás
en ninguna otra parte. Ven a una fiesta de
estrellas o toma una excursión de constelaciones auto-guiada.
Familias en la Naturaleza
Elige un taller o diseña tu propia aventura. ¡Monta
una tienda de campaña, cocina al exterior, prende
una fogata y juega al exterior! Nosotros te
Toma una publicación gratuita de actividades o
pregunta por los paquetes gratuitos con los parques proporcionamos todo el equipo. No es necesario
tener experiencia.
participantes. Usa los binoculares, lupas, libros de
bosquejos y libros de guías para explorar el parque.
Mochilas para Exploradores
Soldados Búfalo de Texas
Descubre la historia con cuentos, vestuarios y
herramientas. Sigue la pista de un animal, pesca con
caña, cocina sobre una fogata, visita los fuertes y más.
Adéntrate en las historias de vida de aquellos que
sirvieron valientemente en los primeros regimientos
Áfrico-Americanos de las Fuerzas Armadas.
!
Seguridad en el Parque
Ten cuidado con el agua
Pre