Today we took a day off from traveling and explored Ft. Davis, TX. We had breakfast at the drug store. The drug store serves meals and has an old-fashioned soda fountain.

After breakfast we went to the Fort Davis National Historic Site. The first fort was built in 1854 as part of a line of forts established to protect the road between San Antonio and El Paso. It was abandoned in 1861 at the start of the Civil War. It was resurrected in 1867 and manned by the all-black 9th Cavalry Regiment. It was closed for good in 1891 and made an historical site in 1961.

Some of the buildings have been restored.

Officers’ Row

Enlisted Quarters

Other buildings have not yet been restored.

Many of the officers’ quarters have new roofs and screens in the windows to keep out the birds, but have been otherwise left untouched.

The commanding officer’s quarters have been extensively restored and contain furniture from the period. A couple of the pieces of furniture are original.

We fixed lunch back at the hotel (our room has a kitchenette.) Then we rode up to Ft. Davis State Park and up to the lookout.

We thought one of the baby birds had left the nest, but it was hiding down in the nest. We watched them while we ate supper on the porch. (It’s like watching paint dry.) Occasionally another bird will fly in and urge them to take off, but they aren’t ready. The mother bird watches from a distance, but she leaves them alone.

Right now the temperature is 81 deg., the sky is clear, and there is a slight breeze. It’s a perfect evening for sitting on the porch.

Tomorrow we hit the road for Houston.