Old Government Road

Mail and passengers moved west from San Antonio to El Paso under a series of contractors from 1851 to 1881, the Handbook of Texas says. Henry Skillman won the first contract in September 1851. In 1857 George H. Giddings and James Birch began a San Antonio-San Diego line said to be the first American transcontinental mail and passenger service: 1,476 miles, about twenty-seven days, and $200 one way with meals. The Texas and Pacific's arrival at El Paso on January 1, 1882, ended the stage line, which Gen. William T. Sherman called 'the skirmish line of civilization.'

What the plaque says

Route of march and troop supply on Texas frontier. Followed in part pre-Columbian Indian trails and "Old Chihuahua Trail" that ran from San Antonio to El Paso and Mexico. In 1840s this was extended to Gulf Coast Port of Indianola where imported goods arrived from the United States and Europe, and were freighted out to be exchanged in Chihuahua for ore of silver and gold, leather goods, and other products. In 1848 water holes and camp sites were marked as this road was re-charted for use of U.S. troops sent to protect Texas frontiers from Indian invasions. Army posts were built along this road: Fort Clark, between San Antonio and Del Rio, 1852; Fort Davis, in the Davis Mountains, 1854; Camp Lancaster, at this site, became Fort Lancaster in 1856. Camp Hudson and Fort Stockton were founded in 1857 and 1859. With all the army traffic, trail won new name of "Government Road." Pioneer settlers, adventurers, California-bound gold seekers--even camel trains in government service--traveled this road in spite of frequent encounters with Comanches, Apaches, Kiowas, and other Indians. The Army finally stationed troops in continuous picket line from San Antonio to El Paso. However, it was not until 1870 that relatively safe passage was assured. (1968)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Fort Lancaster State Historic Site — 1.7 mi
  An 1855 post on Live Oak Creek above the Pecos, on the lower road to El Paso, where the army's camels passed three times and Buffalo Soldiers held off an attack in 1867.
• Alley Oop Park and Iraan Museum — 22 mi
  An oil-boom town named for Ira and Ann Yates, where the creator of the caveman comic Alley Oop once worked, and a park of giant cartoon figures beside the town museum.

More markers nearby

• Howard's Well — steps away
• Ruins of Fort Lancaster — 1.6 mi
• Hoover, Laura and William Peery — 14 mi
• Crockett County's First Producing Oil Well — 21 mi