Rain or Shine, History Comes Alive at Fort Martin Scott’s Frontier Fest 

The festival offered visitors an opportunity to step back in time and experience what daily life may have been like during the fort’s operation from 1848 to 1853, with living history demonstrations, period crafts, and historical interpretations spread throughout the grounds.

Shannon Smith, site manager of Fort Martin Scott State Historic Site, said Frontier Fest is about more than reenactments.

“Seeing history interpreted through sights, sounds and hands-on demonstrations allows visitors of all ages to better understand the challenges and ingenuity of the 19th century,” she said.

One of the highlights of the day was a live cannon-firing demonstration featuring an M1841 12-pound mountain howitzer. The demonstration was conducted by interpreters portraying soldiers of the 8th United States Infantry Regiment and was led by Kevin Malcolm, site manager at Fort McKavett State Historic Site near Menard.

“Frontier forts in Texas during the Antebellum Period, when Fort Martin Scott was in operation, had varying artillery pieces that would have been used to bolster defense,” Malcolm said.

Visitors also encountered an unexpected sight on the Texas frontier: three camels. The animals were brought to the site by Doug Baum, owner of the Texas Camel Corps from West, Texas, near Waco.

Baum explained that the U.S. Army experimented with camels during the mid-19th century to haul water and supplies, helping horses, mules, and soldiers travel longer distances in harsh conditions.

While camels arrived after Fort Martin Scott had closed, they remained an important part of the region’s frontier history. In 1856, 40 camels were purchased and brought to nearby Camp Verde in Kerr County at the request of Secretary of War Jefferson Davis. The U.S. Army discontinued the use of camels after Camp Verde closed in 1869. The fort had more than 100 camels at its peak.

In addition to the camels, two Texas longhorns grazed beneath a large tree, offering another glimpse into frontier-era life.

According to Dr. Will Cradduck, herd manager for the Official Texas Longhorn Herd at Fort Griffin State Historic Site, the U.S. Army relied on longhorns not only as a food source but also as a valuable trading commodity with Native American tribes.

Elsewhere on the grounds, the steady ringing of metal on metal drew spectators to the blacksmith shop, where Jeff Workman of Running Bear Forge shaped hot steel into a horse-head keychain. Visitors paused to watch the transformation, fascinated by the skill and tradition behind the craft.

Frontier Fest is just one of many family-friendly events being hosted at Fort Martin Scott and the other Texas Historical Commission’s state historic sites.

For summer programming, Fort Martin Scott State Historic Site is planning a Texas Frontier Adventure for kids in June. More details will be announced.

To view other events happening at other historic sites, go to thc.texas.gov/events.

About the Texas Historical Commission

The Texas Historical Commission is the state’s official historic preservation agency. It preserves, operates, and manages 42 state historic sites, the Texas Heritage Trails Program, Texas Main Street Program, Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program, and many more heritage tourism and historic preservation initiatives across the state. The Texas Historical Commission’s mission is to protect and preserve the state’s historic and prehistoric resources for the use, education, enjoyment, and economic benefit of present and future generations. For more information, visit thc.texas.gov.