Fort Travis (1898-1947) - Established in 1898 as an Endicott Period coastal defense fortification. Named 4 Apr 1900 in G.O. 43 for William B. Travis , who, in command of Texan forces, gallantly perished in the defense of the Alamo, 6 Mar 1836. Active military post until 1947.
Part of the Harbor Defense of Galveston .
Construction on Fort Travis began in 1898 and was completed in 1899. Two batteries were built, Battery Davis and Battery Ernst . The fort sustained heavy damage in the Galveston hurricane of 1900 but was rebuilt. A fifteen-foot seawall was built in 1906.
Fort Travis Endicott Period Batteries (edit list)
Battery
No.
Caliber
Type Mount
Service Years
Notes
Battery Davis
2
8"
Disappearing
1898-1898-1911-1918
1900 Hurricane damaged rebuilt
Battery Ernst
3
3"
Masking Pedestal
1898-1898-1911-1946
1900 Hurricane damaged rebuilt
Source: CDSG
Fot Travis Plan
In World War I Fort Travis defended the port of Galveston and approaches. Battery Kimble was added in 1925.
Fort Travis World War I Batteries (edit list)
Battery
No.
Caliber
Type Mount
Service Years
Notes
Battery Kimble
2
12"
Long Range Barbette
1917-1922-1922-1943
Guns to Fort Moultrie
Source: CDSG
During World War II Battery 236 (1943) was added along with a supporting SCR-296 gun laying radar site. See Fort Travis WWII Radar Site . The post also housed German prisoners of war during World War II .
Fort Travis World War II Batteries (edit list)
Battery
No.
Caliber
Type Mount
Service Years
Notes
Battery 236
2
6"
Shielded Long Range Barbette
1942-1945-1945-194?
Gun tubes never arrived,
Source: CDSG
Current Status Fort Travis Seashore Park, a Galveston County Park with battery structures remaining, no period guns or carriages in place.
Location:
Fort Travis Seashore Park, eastern tip of Galveston Island.Bing , Google ,
OldMapsOnline ,
USGS , OHM
Recent Blog Posts:
See Also:
Sources:
Hart, Herbert M., Tour Guide to Old Western Forts
Gaines, William, The Seacoast Defenses of Galveston, Texas , The Coast Defense Journal , Vol 21, Issue 4, page 4
The Handbook of Texas OnLine Links:
Picture Gallery Related: Battery 235 , Battery 236 , Battery 520 , Battery Davis , Battery Davis , Battery Ernst , Battery Hoskins , Battery Kimble , Coastal Battery Service Years , Endicott Period , Fort Moultrie , Fort Travis , Fort Travis WWII Radar Site , Marshall Military Reservation , New or Updated Forts and Camps , Tour Guide to Old Western Forts , World War II Coastal Fortifications ,
