Old Fort Bliss
Also known as: Site of Hart's Mill
Why it's listed
Old Fort Bliss is the surviving core of a military post that operated on the Rio Grande in El Paso from 1878 to 1893. The 135-acre site was bought from the heirs of Simeon Hart, who had built a large water-powered flour mill there in 1851. Visible remains include two two-story adobe officers' quarters on cut-stone basements, now apartments, two long adobe barracks, and Hart's former residence, later an officers' club and now a restaurant. Soldiers did much of the construction after contractor bids far exceeded the $40,000 Congress appropriated. The post took part in the Victorio uprising of 1879 and the campaign against Geronimo in 1885-1886. Railroad tracks eventually crossed the parade ground, and in 1893 the fort moved to its final location northeast of the city. Archeological study is expected to reveal more fort ruins and the mill remains.
Significance in brief: The site was the first location the federal government purchased for Fort Bliss and the first place a permanent post was to be built. During its fifteen years there, the fort took part in some of the last Indian campaigns in the Southwest, including the Victorio uprising of 1879 and the campaign against Geronimo in 1885-1886. It also preserves the site of Simeon Hart's flour mill.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 72001357, listed February 23, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1800 block of Doniphan St., El Paso |
|---|---|
| County | El Paso County |
| Listed | February 23, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001357 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific dates: 1851 mill; c. 1885 barracks) |
| Architectural style | Victorian-style plain masonry military buildings |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Military |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as fair and altered; the officers' quarters are used as apartments and Hart's residence houses a restaurant. |
| Acreage | 11 |
| Coordinates | 31.76475, -106.50963 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 72001357.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q65121112
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.