The city’s first permanent U.S. military installation, Fort Sam Houston, is a National Historic Landmark and home of the Fort Sam Houston Museum. Housed in a 1905 mess hall, the museum’s artifacts and photos survey fort history from its 1870s inception to the present.

Fort Sam Houston also encompasses the U.S. Army Medical Department Museum. As the nation’s only Army medical museum, the 40,000-square-foot facility traces military medical advances and their impact on national healthcare. This museum tells the story of the Army Medical Corps, from 1775 to the present. Part history museum, part science museum, it showcases exhibits covering the 200+ year history of US Army Medical Department. Dr. William Fitzsimons, the first American officer killed in the Great War, is featured in the museum. You can see his personal effects that were in his possession when he was killed.

Fort Sam Houston was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1975.

Watch our Houston Riot of 1917 video to learn more about Fort Sam Houston, Texas and Texans in WWI. This video was produced for inclusion in our Texas and the Great War mobile tour found in our Texas Time Travel Tours mobile app. Download the app for more videos and travel information: