In 1968, the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDoT) created the original ten travel trails of Texas. These driving routes were established in conjunction with the Hemis Fair in San Antonio and were designed to get people out to discover all of Texas. The Texas Forts Trail was one of these original trails. Since 1968, a variety of maps have been published and TXDoT has maintained the signage along the highways.
In 1998, the Texas Historical Commission (THC) in partnership with Texas Department of Economic Development(TXED), TXDoT, Texas Parks and Wildlife(TPWD) and Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA), decided to reactivate these original 10 travel trails of Texas. The Texas Forts Trail was chosen as a pilot project. A color brochure was produced and a regional coordinator hired and in January of 1999 the Texas Forts Trail came to life again!
Since the inception of the program, the sites monitoring attendance have seen a significant increase in visitation. Within the region, there is a heightened awareness of area history and culture.
While the Texas Forts Trail Region does not include all of the state's historic forts, information and links to other notable fort locations are available in the Our Stories section of this site.