As a result of the Mexican-American war, the United States in 1848 obtained land west of Texas: modern New Mexico, Arizona, and California. The resulting westward expansion made necessary a route from the city of San Antonio to El Paso, and beyond to California. The road that emerged within Texas became known as the San Antonio-El Paso Road (AKA Lower Emigrant Road; Military Road; Government Road). Between 1849 and 1882 the San Antonio-El Paso road carried mail, freight and passengers by horse and wagon across the Edwards Plateau and Trans-Pecos region of West Texas. During the gold-rush of 1849 the road was used by gold-seekers headed to California. Later the San Antonio-El Paso road was part of the San Antonio-San Diego Mail Line, and Butterfield Overland Mail. To protect people and supplies along the road from Indians and bandits, a series of forts was established along the road: Forts Inge, Clark, Lancaster, Stockton, Davis, Quitman and Bliss. Use of the road declined in the 1880s with the arrival of the railroad.
Click for list of historical markers along the San Antonio-El Paso road.
Once the page opens, to generate a map, click on the link shown in photo. You can then click on red flags to look at individual markers.
Thanks for putting this together. I like to travel in my ancestors footprints and this helped me follow along on my GGGrandfathers march to the Battle of Glorieta Pass in 1862.
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