Take A Trip Back In Time At These Historic Texas Forts

Texas has done a pretty good job of maintaining the forts that have defended the lone star state with one near El Paso that looks almost new.

Texas has, or had, a ton of forts that protected Texas and Texans. Some are reduced to just a building or two while others are fairly complete. Fort Davis, an easy road trip from El Paso, is one of the most complete and it looks like they just built it.

World Atlas listed the 8 most iconic forts in Texas and the list includes one that wasn't meant to be a fort ... it just kind of worked out that way.

The Birthplace Of Texas

The Alamo was not meant to be a fort, it began as a Spanish mission and got moved around a bit before it wound up where it is now. It not only had several locations, it also didn't always have that instantly recognizable shape.

There's not that much left of the original "fort", just the Chapel that everybody recognizes at first glance and the building known as the "long barrack".

READ MORE: Texas' Most Visited Site

Of all the other Forts in Texas one of the most well preserved is about 3 hours from El Paso.

Fort Davis

Fort Davis is a very cool place. I've been there a couple of times and really like just wandering around the place. The canyon serves as its "wall" in some parts and most of the buildings still stand.

The fort was deactivated in 1891 yet you almost expect to hear bugle calls and see troops rushing out of the buildings to muster on the parade ground. Seriously, those hundred and whatever year old buildings look like the Army just put them up.

It's a beautiful and historic day trip from El Paso and there's a lot of other stuff nearby to round out your day or weekend getaway.

You can also visit the McDonald Observatory, test your taste buds at the Terlingua Chili Cookoff and/or visit the mini Prada store on your way to try and catch a glimpse of the world famous Marfa Mystery Lights. I've seen them ... spooky.

Closer to home, you can see a couple of the original Fort Bliss buildings. They're between Paisano and the Rio, below UTEP, next to where La Hacienda restaurant used to be on the site of Hart's Mill.

Beyond Texas, just north of Las Cruces near Radium Springs, you can wander through the ruins of Fort Seldon.