Fort Martin Scott
Fort Martin Scott
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Western frontier fort built in the 1840's is today a museum.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
90 reviews
Excellent
40
Very good
33
Average
14
Poor
3
Terrible
0
Paul E
Texas220 contributions
Oct 2020
Underdeveloped frontier army post exhibit. Visitor center has limited hours. Admission is free. One may stroll the circular walk easily in a half hour. Many of the exhibit sign boards are in poor condition and need repair.
Written 11 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Texas_Belle9
Dallas, TX6 contributions
According to the caretaker it was because the German settlers lived up to their end of the treaty. The buildings are all reconstructions on the original foundations. That is not surprising since the Fort was all built of timber. In the back, the original guardhouse, made of cut limestone, still stands because it was used as a house for several years after the fort was sold to John T. Braeutigam. Braeutigam used the main buidlings of the fort as a beer garten and dance hall. Braeutigam was robbed and murdered at the Garten in 1884, leaving the guardhouse where he died with the reputation of being haunted.
Written 24 August 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jonathonlevy
Austin, TX131 contributions
Apr 2013 • Friends
We drove in but everything was locked up. Heard that a group not associated with the Texas rangers but using their name is trying to take over tyhe sitre, while another group associated with a Native American tribe has been trying to develop it into a Pow-wow site. There is reason for the latter: this is the only fort where there was peace between Native Americans and the settlers, because the white man kept his word with the Indian and honored the treaties. There was never any bloodshed there.
Written 8 April 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1234texas
Seabrook, TX5,272 contributions
Aug 2019
From what I can gather, most of the fort has long since disintegrated, but the recreations look and feel much like the buildings of the time frame. It is good to see an effort to re-create the buildings of the past to help future generations understand how the structures were built and how they were used.
This is not a primary reason to visit Fredericksburg, but it is nice. If you are interested in architecture of the time frame, Fredericksburg is a great stop. The Germans that built the town were very good at what they did--the architecture is wonderful. The old homes in the downtown area are well worth a walking tour. There are a number of the old farm houses still in existence on the outskirts of town. Some of the churches are wonderful!
This is not a primary reason to visit Fredericksburg, but it is nice. If you are interested in architecture of the time frame, Fredericksburg is a great stop. The Germans that built the town were very good at what they did--the architecture is wonderful. The old homes in the downtown area are well worth a walking tour. There are a number of the old farm houses still in existence on the outskirts of town. Some of the churches are wonderful!
Written 21 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
goseedo
Tennessee274 contributions
Nov 2021
What a surprising stop in Fredericksburg. Stroll the grounds, read the signage, enter the (few) buildings, and chat with the Visitor Center representative, which will provide you with good context of the Fort, as well as the general history of the time period -- and the relationships between American Indians and German (and other) settlers in the area. The Fort was one of seven posts built to provide protection for the settlers and those passing through in the mid-1800s. After it was no longer in use, the land and buildings were purchased by a German family, whose story is also told here. Be sure to check out the Treaty Stone within the Visitor Center.
The site is free. Parking is ample (right by the road). The Visitor Center is currently open only certain hours, but you can walk the grounds even when it's closed. It would be fine to bring children, and it appears that dog-walking is also acceptable on the paths. Budget 30 to 90 minutes for your visit. Right next door is the Texas Rangers Heritage Center and, as the Rangers now oversee Fort Martin Scott, I'd bet the site will be further improved as time goes on. Go, and you will likely learn something you didn't know before! It's so vital to preserve as much of our history as possible.
The site is free. Parking is ample (right by the road). The Visitor Center is currently open only certain hours, but you can walk the grounds even when it's closed. It would be fine to bring children, and it appears that dog-walking is also acceptable on the paths. Budget 30 to 90 minutes for your visit. Right next door is the Texas Rangers Heritage Center and, as the Rangers now oversee Fort Martin Scott, I'd bet the site will be further improved as time goes on. Go, and you will likely learn something you didn't know before! It's so vital to preserve as much of our history as possible.
Written 29 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julie
Tyler, TX51 contributions
Mar 2016 • Couples
We drove by this Fort and thought we'd stop and see what there was. Although all but one of the buildings is reconstruction, it's an interesting and informative place. The historical aspect alone is worth the stop. Besides, it was free. We also spoke with a gentlemen about the Texas Ranger Monument and Museum currently being built. It's going to be interesting to see how they differ from the Ranger Museum in Waco. I encourage you to take a walk around at least.
Written 8 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RaceGirl15
Fredericksburg, TX14 contributions
Mar 2015
A neglected piece of Texas history for such a long while, I initially was looking forward to Fort Martin Scott's revival. But a visit to the fort shortly after management and facility changes had begun found my husband and I (along with another couple who entered the fort at the same time) *literally* chased down by a man (site manager?) demanding we "sign in". He was quite brusque and, honestly, rude. Neither couple consented to providing names or addresses, particularly after such oddly aggressive behavior.
Physical changes are being made to the fort, including the recent relocation of a building. As an historic site, I sincerely hope guidelines are in place (and followed) to maintain historical accuracy. Parking next door at the Former Texas Rangers' museum site is inconvenient and somewhat confusing, given the FTR is a private entity not affiliated with the fort. Sadly, I doubt we will return.
Physical changes are being made to the fort, including the recent relocation of a building. As an historic site, I sincerely hope guidelines are in place (and followed) to maintain historical accuracy. Parking next door at the Former Texas Rangers' museum site is inconvenient and somewhat confusing, given the FTR is a private entity not affiliated with the fort. Sadly, I doubt we will return.
Written 9 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tennessee50plus
Springfield, TN8,017 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
This is a place you would easily drive past. You can see from the road that there are a few restored buildings and not much else. Do stop and spend 20 or 30 minutes reading the fascinating history and the integral role this fort and many like it played in the development of Texas. We stopped in at the office and got a great history lesson on the fort and the surrounding area. The fort is now part of the Texas Rangers Heritage Center which is the impressive structure next door. We walked the trail through the fort and read the many signs they give great detail of the people who lived at the fort and the roles each played. It was a pleasant fun stop and well worth it. I wish the rangers center had been open, but it will open soon. There is no cost only appreciated donations.
Written 25 June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WDFerguson
Navasota, TX181 contributions
Sept 2014 • Couples
Nice place to visit and see what things were like back in the 1800's in a western military fort. Educational and fun during demonstrations with your children; beside that, it is free.
Written 20 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David T
Georgetown, TX535 contributions
Nov 2014 • Friends
Fort Martin Scott is the best tourism deal in Fredericksburg. It's FREE. If you like history then be sure to stop by.
Fort Martin Scott began as a Texas Ranger camp and evolved into a US Army Post. Some of the buildings have been reconstructed to give you an idea of life in the post. We were there at 9 am on a Friday and all of the buildings were open to walk into. There are signs along the tour route to explain the building and to give you a little history of the area.
In the future it will be joined with the Texas Ranger Heritage Center next door and more buildings will be reconstructed. So in a few years, I will go back to see how it's changed.
Please stop. If you have fun then leave them a donation.
Fort Martin Scott began as a Texas Ranger camp and evolved into a US Army Post. Some of the buildings have been reconstructed to give you an idea of life in the post. We were there at 9 am on a Friday and all of the buildings were open to walk into. There are signs along the tour route to explain the building and to give you a little history of the area.
In the future it will be joined with the Texas Ranger Heritage Center next door and more buildings will be reconstructed. So in a few years, I will go back to see how it's changed.
Please stop. If you have fun then leave them a donation.
Written 2 December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Can tickets be purchased in advance and how much are the tickets?
Written 9 April 2017
There is no charge to visit Fort Martin Scott. However, if you would like to leave a donation, they would be very happy to accept. All donations benefit the fort only. I don't know when you are planning to visit, but they are having a large living history event April 28 and 29, 2017. I hope you enjoy your visit.
Written 9 April 2017
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