Palisado Kitchen/Mess Room
Brackettville, Kinney County, Texas
Marker Inscription
This structure was built by the U. S. Army in 1869-70 and is an example of vertical post or jacal construction, used due to the absence of trees tall enough for traditional horizontal log construction. African American “Buffalo Soldiers” of the 25th infantry built the rectangular plan structure with wood shingle roof for use as a mess room located behind their new stone barracks. The building was later a company storeroom, tailor shop and amusement hall. Some sources mistakenly identified this building as the “Robert E. Lee building,” even though Lee never visited Fort Clark while he was in Texas. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1963
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
African American "Buffalo Soldiers" of the 25th Infantry built this vertical-post structure in 1869-70 as a mess room behind their stone barracks, using upright timbers because no trees stood tall enough for traditional log walls. Over the years it also served as storeroom, tailor shop, and amusement hall. A persistent legend wrongly tied it to Robert E. Lee, who never visited Fort Clark during his Texas service.
Why it matters
Buildings raised by Buffalo Soldiers stand as tangible proof of the Black regiments who garrisoned the frontier West in the decades after emancipation.
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