HISTORY The Quadrangle
Oldest structure on the post, this former Quartermaster Supply Depot served as headquarters for the Third and Fourth Armies. Today, the Fifth U.S. Army/ ARNORTH occupies these historic grounds. The Quadrangle has become the focal point of the Fort Sam Houston National Historic Landmark District. The 624-foot, square limestone structure encloses an eight-acre courtyard. Along the west, south and east sides were storerooms for supplies and equipment. Originally, only the center third of the south side had a second story. There, offices for the supply officers were located. When the Department Headquarters was to move the Quadrangle in 1881, the second story was extended to the remainder of the south side. The 90-foot tower in the center of the Quadrangle originally held a water tank. This was replaced by a clock in 1882. The current faces on the clock were installed in 1907. The expansion of the headquarters’ staff eventually required the movement of all supply functions out of the Quadrangle in 1922. Since then, headquarters has been the sole occupant. Generals Frederick Funston, John J. Pershing and Dwight D. Eisenhower are a few of the distinguished soldiers whose offices were here. Visitors may take a walking tour around the Quadrangle. Points of interest are marked with explanatory signs. Additional information is available at the kiosk near the Sally Port (entrance). Additionally, military vehicles and artillery are on display west of the Quadrangle. As an active military headquarters, the Quadrangle is operational around the clock everyday. A Military Police checkpoint is located at the entrance. The public is welcome to visit the Quadrangle from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays and from noon-6 p.m. on weekends. The Quadrangle is closed to visitors on Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.
Infantry Post
Designed by Alfred Giles and built east of the Quadrangle between 1885 and 1894 for a 12-company garrison, completion of the Infantry Post made Fort Sam Houston the second largest Army Post. Building 688 was home to Lieutenant and Mrs. Dwight Eisenhower from 1915 - 1917.
Camp Travis
Constructed in 1917 for the mobilization of draftees, Camp Travis was comprised of 1,400 temporary buildings covering the area from the Gift Chapel to Old BAMC and as far east as Garden Street. Camp capacity exceeded 50,000 soldiers and 1,500 horses and mules.
Brooke Army Medical Center
Completed in 1996, BAMC is a stateof-the-art medical treatment facility and teaching hospital. It is home to the Institute for Surgical Research renowned burn treatment center. It is named for Colonel Roger Brooke who commanded the Station Hospital at Fort Sam Houston from 19291933. BAMC includes a medical treatment facility, a medical research laboratory and a central energy plant. The multi-storied medical treatment facility is the primary structure in the medical complex. It has 1.5 million square feet of operational space and a normal bed capacity of 450. The hospital is capable of expanding to 653 beds if needed to support a wartime mobilization.
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Old BAMC
Completed in 1937 as a General Hospital, it was designated the Brooke Army Medical Center, a role it filled until 1996 when New BAMC was built. Today it is the home to the headquarters of US Army South and Installation Management Command - West.
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