The Stockyards District in Fort Worth Texas

The Stockyards National Historic District will be home to more than a dozen historic Texas forts during the fourth annual Texas Frontier Forts Muster on April 23-25, 2004. This three-day family event is free and open to the public, and features heritage activities, parades, and the Quanah Parker Comanche Pow Wow and Honor Dance. In addition, the Southwest Regional Cavalry Games competition will be held in conjunction with the Muster in 2004.

Historic fort sites from around the state, such as Fort Concho, Fort Richardson, Fort Griffin, Fort Parker and Fort Chadbourne, among others, will establish camp in the Fort Worth Stockyards along Exchange Avenue. Activities will include military re-enactments, frontier history presentations, displays of uniforms, gear, tents, wagons and flags, all designed to highlight what life was like during the frontier fort era from the 1840’s to the early 1900’s. A period frontier ball is planned for the evening of April 24 at the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.

The Quanah Parker Comanche Pow Wow and Honor Dance will also be a Forts Muster event, providing visitors the opportunity to learn more about Comanche culture and tradition. Dances will be performed in front of the Stockyards Visitors Information Center on Friday, April 23, and Saturday, April 24, with the Pow Wow taking place in the “Back Forty” of Stockyards Station on Friday night and Saturday.

The Southwest Regional Cavalry Games competition will be a featured event at the Forts Muster in 2004. The cavalry competition will use a two-day format, with individual competitions in military equitation and a composite cavalry course planned for Friday, April 23. On Saturday, April 24, the events will include platoon drill competitions and Sets-of-4 matches, as well as a special Challenge Cup Shootout featuring the top three winners from each of Friday’s individual classes.

The final event will be a Sunday morning ceremony on April 25 at Pioneers Rest Cemetery honoring Fort Worth’s frontier soldiers.

A detailed schedule of Texas Frontier Forts Muster Events will be available and distributed in early 2004.

Additional information on the Texas Frontier Forts Muster is available from the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau, 817-336-8791, or Stockyards Station, 817-625-9715. For more information about the Southwest Regional Calvary Games Competition, email Clay Patterson at Scotsman@texasisp.com or visit www.mcfadden.org/swrcg.