Everyone In Texas Should See What’s Inside The Walls Of This Abandoned Fort
Texas is full of abandoned forts and other military structures, but none are quite as interesting or eerie as Fort Travis in Galveston. Check out how well-preserved it is after years of being decommissioned:
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The fort was constructed in 1898 and completed the following year. It was first utilized in WWI when troops defended the Port of Galveston from encroaching enemies.
It was enlarged in 1942 to make room for 2,500 men. Several different types of guns were installed, from anti-aircraft to 16-inch rifles and everything in between.
Though you can't actually go into the underground bunkers, there's still plenty of ground to be explored within the walls of the fort. The farther you dive into its depths, the more you start to feel the energy of the soldiers who fought there so long ago.
In 1976, the 60-acre park was obtained through a Moody Foundation Grant and is operated by the Galveston County Beach and Parks Department. Today, it includes the 15-foot seawall, grassy areas, picnic tables, grills, and even a playground for the kiddos.
There are so many different structures in the park to marvel at. History buffs will enjoy reading the signs in front of most of the buildings explaining what exactly they were used for.
Perching behind one of these hiding spots is as close as it gets to walking in the shoes of the soldiers. Feel the fear that enveloped them as the enemy approached, and be grateful for their bravery and courage.
Kids may not appreciate what happened here quite as much as we do, but they'll certainly get excited about having plenty of space to run and play. There are acres upon acres of land to entertain them while the adults take in the scenery.
If you want to take a step back into wartime living, the park is located at 900 State Hwy. 87, Port Bolivar, TX 77650. It provides education and a chance for quality family time all in one.
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and changed her major twice (psychology, computer science, and finally criminal justice) before taking a leap of faith and dropping out to pursue a career in freelance writing.
Today, Katie writes for the Texas and Arizona pages of OnlyInYourState.com and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on the sofa with a hot cup of coffee, watching a crime TV show or scary movie.
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