Fort Leaton State Historic Site

Fort Leaton is believed to have been built as an adobe residence in the 1830s by Juan Bustillos. In 1848, it was acquired by Benjamin Leaton, who lived in the structure and also used it as his trading post and fortress.{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Julia Cauble|title=Ft. Leaton State Historic Site|url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ghf03|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=7 February 2012}}

Benjamin Leaton was a trader, freight hauler along the Chihuahua Trail, and a bounty hunter paid by various local governments in Mexico for each scalp taken from an indigenous person. He also traded munitions to the Apache and Comanche for any stolen cattle they brought him.{{cite book|last=Laine|first=Don|title=Frommer's National Parks of the American West|year=2010|publisher=Frommer's|isbn=978-0-470-53767-1|pages=[https://archive.org/details/frommersnational0000lain_n7m4/page/50 50, 51]|author2=Laine, Barbara|author3=Olson, Jack|author4=Peterson, Eric|author5=Christensen, Shane|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/frommersnational0000lain_n7m4/page/50}} When Presidio County was established in 1850, Fort Leaton was its first seat of government.{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Julia Cauble|title=Presidio County|url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcp08|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=7 February 2012}} Leaton died in 1851,{{cite book|last=Field|first=Ron|title=Forts of the American Frontier 1820–91: The Southern Plains and Southwest|url=https://archive.org/details/fortsamericanfro00fiel_689|url-access=registration|year=2006|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=978-1-84603-040-6|author2=Hook, Adam|page=[https://archive.org/details/fortsamericanfro00fiel_689/page/n19 18]}} and his widow married Edward Hall who continued operating the freight business from the fort. Hall became financially indebted to Leaton's scalp hunting partner John Burgess. Hall defaulted on his debt to Burgess in 1864, and was murdered. Burgess took over the fort, and was in turn murdered by Leaton's son in 1875. The Burgess family remained in the fort until they abandoned it in 1926.{{cite book|last=Parent|first=Laurence|title=Official Guide to Texas State Parks and Historic Sites: Revised Edition|year=2008|publisher=University of Texas Press|isbn=978-0-292-71726-8|pages=xxviii, xxix}} The fort was purchased by Marfa State Bank and a private citizen in the 1930s and donated to Presidio County. An attempt at restoration was begun, but adequate financing never materialized. The site was then purchased by a private citizen and donated to the state of Texas. In 1968, the site was designated Fort Leaton State Historic Site. It opened to the public in 1978.

Fort Leaton was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings in Presidio County, Texas on June 18, 1973.{{cite web|title=NRHP Ft Leaton|url=http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/viewform.asp?atlas_num=2073001972&site_name=Fort+Leaton&class=2001|publisher=Texas Historical Association|access-date=7 February 2012}}

Fort Leaton State Historic Site is on Farm to Market Road 170, {{convert|5|mi}} southeast of Presidio, Texas.{{cite web|title=Fort Leaton State Historic Site|url=http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/fort_leaton/|publisher=Texas Parks and Wildlife Department|access-date=7 February 2012}}

The site contains historic ruins, nature trails, and exhibits. There is a picnic area and public restrooms. The Texas State Park Store gift shop is located on the grounds.

The Barton Warnock Environmental Education Center serves as the visitor center for both Ft. Leaton State Historic Site and Big Bend Ranch State Park.{{cite web|title=Barton Warnock Visitor Center|url=http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/barton_warnock/|publisher=Texas Parks and Wildlife Department|access-date=9 February 2012}}

Wireless Internet Access (Wi-Fi) is available in some areas of this site.{{cite web|title=TPWD Wi-Fi Access|url=http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/parkinfo/facilities/wireless_internet/|publisher=Texas Parks and Wildlife Department|access-date=8 February 2012}}

Fort Leaton is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 7 days a week, but closed on Christmas Day.

Entrance fee applies. Special event rental fees by prior arrangement. Guided tours are available for an additional fee. Group tours need to be coordinated in advance with the Park.

{{Portal|National Register of Historic Places|Texas}}

• Museums in West Texas
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Presidio County, Texas

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{{Commons category|Fort Leaton}}

• [http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/fort-leaton TPWD Fort Leaton official site]

{{Protected areas of Texas}}

{{National Register of Historic Places in Texas}}

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Category:History museums in Texas

Category:Protected areas of Presidio County, Texas

Category:Texas State Historic Sites

Category:Forts on the National Register of Historic Places in Texas

Category:Protected areas established in 1978

Category:Museums in Presidio County, Texas

Category:Adobe buildings and structures

Category:National Register of Historic Places in Presidio County, Texas