Fort Pena Colorada (Red Rock)
Marathon, Brewster County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Established in 1880 as a means of preventing Indian raids into Mexico. Raided by Apaches in 1881. Abandoned in 1893 after Western Texas had been permanently cleared of Indians.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Established in 1880 in the rugged Big Bend country, Fort Peña Colorada guarded the water and passes near Marathon against raids across the Mexican border. Apaches struck the post in 1881 during the last years of the Indian Wars in far West Texas. With the frontier considered pacified, the fort was abandoned in 1893.
Why it matters
The short-lived post marks the closing chapter of the U.S. Army's long campaign to secure the West Texas borderlands during the Apache wars.
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Related events
- · Apache raid of 1881
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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