Explore frontier days at Fort Croghan
If you want a glimpse back in time to the days of the early frontier in Texas, visit Fort Croghan in Burnet.
Home of Company C 8th Infantry, USA until 1853, Fort Croghan was established in 1849 in what is now Burnet, Texas. It was the third of four forts the U.S. government established to protect settlers from hostile Indians. Eventually, Fort Croghan became the headquarters of the Second Dragoon Regiment. Today, it is a museum complete with blacksmith shop, stagecoach house, cabins and a schoolhouse.
The fort was named for Col. George Croghan, who fought in the War of 1812.
Having troops stationed at the fort encouraged settlement. Within two years, enough people had moved to the area that Burnet County was established. The county seat was situated near the fort for safety. Two years after that, the federal government left the fort, reasoning that enough people now lived in the area to protect themselves from the remaining Indians.
You can visit Fort Croghan from April to mid-October, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday at 703 W. Buchanan Drive in Burnet. Group tours can be scheduled year-round.
Two main events bring history to life at the fort each year. Fort Croghan Day is held on the second Saturday in October from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Christmas at Ol’ Fort Croghan is the second Saturday in December from 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Admission to both events is free.
For more, call (512) 756-8281, email info@fortcroghan.org or visit www.fortcroghan.org.