Editing Fort Sam Houston (section)

==History==
[[File:Sam Houston Quadrangle.jpg|thumb|Illustration from a postcard of the Quadrangle at Fort Sam Houston]]
Construction at Fort Sam Houston began in the mid-1870s under the supervision of the military commander of the Department of Texas, [[Major General]] [[Edward Ord]], a [[United States Military Academy|West Point]]-trained army engineer. Today, as one of the Army's oldest installations, and with more than 900 buildings in its historic districts, Fort Sam Houston boasts one of the largest collection of historic military post structures. The significant contributions of Fort Sam Houston to the United States were recognized in 1975 when the post was designated as a [[National Historic Landmark]].

The Sundry Civil Service Bill of 3 March 1873 included a $100,000 allotment for a new army post in San Antonio, on 93 acres of land deeded by the city on Government Hill.<ref name=Cagle>{{cite book |last1=Cagle |first1=Eldon Jr. |title=Fort Sam: The Story of Fort Sam Houston, Texas |location=San Antonio |date=2003 |publisher=Maverick Pub. |isbn=1-893271-24-2}}</ref>{{rp|13–15}} Edward Braden Construction Co. won the contract to build the post on 7 June 1876, for $83,900 {{USDCY|83900|1876}}.<ref name=Cagle/>{{rp|15}} Included on the Quadrangle was a combination {{convert|87|ft|m}} tall watchtower and {{convert|6400|gal|L|abbr=on}} water tank designed by General [[Montgomery C. Meigs (1816–1892)|Montgomery C. Meigs]], based on one he had seen in Europe, and which he called "his work of art".<ref name=Cagle/>{{rp|15,18}}

On 19 February 1877, the new train station on Austin Street opened, connecting San Antonio to [[Galveston, Texas|Galveston]].<ref name=Cagle/>{{rp|15}} The quartermasters soon moved their depot supplies from the [[Alamo]] to the Quadrangle, and the headquarters of the "Post at San Antonio" moved in on 22 December 1879.<ref name=Cagle/>{{rp|17,18}}

[[File:Pershing House, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas (cropped).jpg|thumb|Pershing House]]
In 1880, fifteen officers' quarters were designed by architect [[Alfred_Giles_(architect)|Alfred Giles]], west of the Quadrangle, and bordering a parade ground. This included the Commanding General's home, constructed in 1881, now known as the [[Pershing House]], and first occupied by Brig. Gen. [[Christopher Augur]].<ref name=Cagle/>{{rp|18–20}} <ref name="THC">{{cite web |title=Pershing House |url=http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/viewform.asp?atlas_num=2074002058&site_name=Pershing%20House&class=2001 |publisher=Texas State Historical Association |access-date=September 10, 2012 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304203327/http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/viewform.asp?atlas_num=2074002058&site_name=Pershing%20House&class=2001 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Between 1885 and 1893, 60 additional buildings were built on {{convert|43|acre}}, Upper post or Infantry Post, purchased by the army east of the Quadrangle, including the 1893 Band Barracks overlooking another parade ground.<ref name=Cagle/>{{rp|20–22}} The hospital, now known as Sam Houston House, was built in 1886.<ref name=Cagle/>{{rp|20}} The post was formally named Fort Sam Houston on 11 September 1890.<ref name=Cagle/>{{rp|29}}

The Fort Sam Houston Quadrangle, built by [[George Henry Griebel]], is the oldest structure at Fort Sam Houston. The [[quadrangle (architecture)|quadrangle]] was originally a supply depot. During that time, it housed the [[Apache]] war [[Tribal chief|chief]] [[Geronimo]] and warriors captured with him, while the Federal government decided whether to treat them as [[prisoners of war]] (POWs) or common criminals. Legend has it that the deer in the Quadrangle were there because Geronimo refused to eat food he did not hunt.<ref name="Aldrich2011">{{cite book |first=Melodye |last=Aldrich |title=The Lerich Family: History and Remembrances |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gr23gevWRFgC&pg=PA28 |access-date=28 January 2012 |date=13 December 2011 |publisher=AuthorHouse |isbn=978-1-4685-0552-8 |pages=28– |archive-date=5 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605022429/http://books.google.com/books?id=Gr23gevWRFgC&pg=PA28 |url-status=live }}</ref> The deer pre-date Geronimo in the Quadrangle.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tpr.org/news/2011/05/news1105271.html |title=News - Texas Public Radio |website=www.tpr.org |access-date=2019-05-27 |archive-date=2014-03-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301193236/http://tpr.org/news/2011/05/news1105271.html |url-status=live}}</ref> It is unknown why the deer and peacocks were introduced into the confined courtyard of the Quadrangle.<ref name="Aldrich2011"/>

The Quadrangle is now an office complex housing the commanding general and staff of U.S. Army North as well as the Fort Sam Houston Museum. The base has maintained the historical integrity of the post's different sections, which represent different eras of construction, and reflect various Army concepts in planning and design. Careful preservation of these areas allows the post to live with its history, surrounded by the traditions established when the first soldier arrived here in 1845.

The Gift Chapel was dedicated by President [[William Taft]] on 17–18 October 1909.<ref name=Cagle/>{{rp|36}}

During [[World War II]], space at the fort was made available for up to 1,000 [[German prisoners of war in the United States#World War II|German POWs]]. This took place on 15 September 1942 while [[POW camp]]s could be built.<ref name="Krammer">{{cite book |last1=Krammer |first1=Arnold |title=Nazi Prisoners of War in America |date=1979 |publisher=Stein and Day |location=New York |isbn=0812825713 |page=[https://archive.org/details/naziprisonersofw00kram/page/27 27,40] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/naziprisonersofw00kram/page/27}}</ref>