page_title: Fort Sam Houston
section_title: Historic buildings
hierarchical_section_title: Fort Sam Houston / Historic buildings
caption_attribution_description: English: Clock Tower in the Quadrangle, Fort Sam Houston
context_page_description: Fort Sam Houston is a U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas.
  Known colloquially as "Fort Sam", it is named for the U.S. Senator from Texas, U.S. Representative from Tennessee, Tennessee and Texas Governor, and first President of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston.
  The installation's missions include serving as the command headquarters for the United States Army North, United States Army South, the Army Medical Command headquarters, the Army Medical Department Center and School, the Fifth Recruiting Brigade, Navy Regional Recruiting, the San Antonio Military Entrance and Processing Station, and the Medical Education and Training Campus. On October 1, 2010, Fort Sam Houston joined Lackland Air Force Base and Randolph Air Force Base to create Joint Base San Antonio, under Air Force administration.
context_section_description: The Sundry Civil Service Bill of 3 March 1873, included a $100,000 for a new army post in San Antonio, on 93 acres of land deeded by the city on Government Hill.  Edward Braden Construction Co. won the contract to build the post on 7 June 1876, for $83,900.  Included on the Quadrangle was a combination 87 foot watch tower and 6,400 gallon water tank designed by General Montgomery C. Meigs, based on one he had seen in Europe, and which he called "his work of art".  On 19 Feb. 1877, the new train station on Austin Street opened, connecting San Antonio to Galveston.  The quartermasters soon moved their depot supplies from the Alamo to the Quadrangle, and the headquarters of the "Post at San Antonio" moved in on 22 Dec. 1879.  In 1880, 15 officers' quarters were designed by architect Alfred Giles, west of the Quadrangle, and bordering a parade ground, which included the Commanding General's home, now known as the Pershing House, and first occupied by Brig. Gen. Christopher Augur.  The hospital, now known as Sam Houston House, was built in 1886.  Between 1885 and 1891, 60 additional buildings were built on 43 acres, Upper post or Infantry Post, purchased by the army east of the Quadrangle, including the 1893 Band Barracks overlooking another parade ground.  The post was formally named Fort Sam Houston on September 11, 1890.  The Gift Chapel was dedicated by President William Taft on 17–18 Oct. 1909.
  Construction at Fort Sam Houston began in the middle 1870s under the supervision of the military commander of the Department of Texas, Major General Edward Ord, a West Point-trained army engineer. Today, as one of the Army's oldest installations, and with more than 900 buildings in its historic districts, Fort Sam Houston boasts one of the largest collection of historic military post structures. The significant contributions of Fort Sam Houston to the United States were recognized in 1975 when the post was designated as a National Historic Landmark.
  The Fort Sam Houston Quadrangle, built by George Henry Griebel, is the oldest structure at Fort Sam Houston. It was originally a supply depot. During that time, it housed the Apache war chief Geronimo and warriors captured with him, while the Federal government decided whether to treat them as prisoners of war or common criminals.  Legend has it that the deer in the Quadrangle were there because Geronimo refused to eat food he did not hunt. The deer pre-date Geronimo in the Quadrangle. It is unknown why the deer (and peacocks/penhens) were introduced into the confined courtyard of the Quadrangle.
  The Quadrangle is now an office complex housing the commanding general and staff of U.S. Army North as well as the Fort Sam Houston Museum. The base has maintained the historical integrity of the post's different sections, which represent different eras of construction, and reflect various Army concepts in planning and design. Careful preservation of these areas allows the post to live with its history, surrounded by the traditions established when the first soldier arrived here in 1845.
  Pershing House, home of the base commandant, was designed by the architect Alfred Giles and constructed in 1881.
  During World War II space at the fort was made available for up to 1,000 German POWs.  This took place on 15 Sept. 1942 while POW camps could be built.
caption: Illustration from a postcard of the Quadrangle at Fort Sam Houston
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