Fort Leaton

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 Get the Mobile App: MAPS ACTIVITIES TexasStateParks.org/app 2025 Toyota Tacoma From scenic trails to serene lake shores, the Toyota Tacoma is your ultimate companion for exploring the untamed beauty of Texas wildlife. With its redesigned interior and powerful performance, you’ll be ready for any excursion. Adventure. It’s what we share. | toyota.com/tacoma Options shown. Official Vehicle of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation 8 Places to Stay 10 Recreational Vehicles 12 Tips for Time in Nature 14 Visitor Fees & Passes DIRECTORY TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT 52 68 20 38 60 30 84 20 Big Bend Country 60 Pineywoods 48 State Parks Map David Yoskowitz, Ph.D. Executive Director Rodney Franklin State Parks Director Mischelle Diaz Communications Director TPW COMMISSION Jeffery D. Hildebrand, Chairman Houston Oliver J. Bell, Vice-Chairman Cleveland James E. Abell Kilgore Wm. Leslie Doggett Houston Paul L. Foster El Paso Anna B. Galo Laredo Robert L. “Bobby” Patton, Jr. Fort Worth Travis B. “Blake” Rowling Dallas Dick Scott Wimberley Lee Marshall Bass, Chairman-Emeritus Fort Worth T. Dan Friedkin, Chairman-Emeritus Houston Special thanks to Toyota and advertisers, whose generous support made this guide possible. Cover Photo: Galveston Island State Park, Chase Fountain Texas State Parks Official Guide, Twenty-first Edition © TPWD PWD BK P4000-000A (4/25) 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 through Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (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 I am excited about the future for Texas State Parks. I am glad we have been able to highlight past successes like our 100-year anniversary and our Gold Medal win, but it is important that we build on that success moving forward. For 2025, thanks to your support, we embark on a new era for Texas State Parks, and we should all be proud of what we have built and where we are headed. As more and more Texans are discovering the beauty of state parks, it is exciting to have the opportunity to grow our system of parks through the Centennial Parks Fund. This is a huge legacy that will impact outdoor recreation and conservation for years to come and work has begun to identify beautiful properties that will become the next great state park. Adding new state parks will allow Texans to explore new, special wild places in a variety of ways. That said, we will continue to protect and improve existing parks that have served Texans so well. Texas is a big state with lots for our team to steward and visitors to enjoy. Our teams across the state remain eager to welcome outdoor enthusiasts and novices alike, to discover what our parks have to offer. 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 heritage that connects us all. You and your family should be a part of the next chapter of Texas State Parks as there is more to enjoy than you may realize. I hope you’ll visit soon and often and bring your friends and family along. Parks are for everyone and we’re looking forward to embarking on the new golden age of Texas State Parks along with you. WHAT’S NEW IN STATE PARKS Balmorhea State Park is fully reopened with renovations to the San Solomon Motor Courts, campsites and historic spring-fed swimming pool. In addition, South Llano River State Park has a new visitor center, amphitheater and river bridge. The Devils River Dan A. Hughes Unit is set to open in 2025, offering new opportunities for camping, hiking and paddling along 10 miles of pristine river frontage. Improvements include Indian Lodge’s renovations, repair and road construction at Garner State Park, and updates at Eisenhower, Lake Corpus Christi, Bonham, Pedernales Falls and several other state parks. 3 PARKS NEAR YOU Where do you want to go? You’ll find many state parks nearby. Dallas/Fort Worth >>

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