Fort D.A. Russell Historic District/ Donald Judd Historic District (Additional Documentation)
Why it's listed
Fort D. A. Russell, first called Camp Marfa, was a U.S. Army post on the south side of Marfa, Texas, operating from 1911 to 1946. It began as a tent camp meant to protect citizens from the effects of Mexico's Madero Revolution and became a permanent post during World War I. The district covers more than 464 acres, including the fort proper and about thirty acres of quartermaster depot land near the railroad in town. Its most intact feature is Cavalry Row, where all eleven cavalry barracks survive along with most mess halls and latrines. Officer housing stands on Officer Hill, and the administrative center includes the Officers' Club with murals painted by German prisoners of war. Open ground that once served for maneuvers and target practice remains part of the setting. Some buildings have been lost, including stables and prisoner housing. Today the buildings hold art foundations, homes, offices and other uses.
Significance in brief: The district is described as one of the most intact early twentieth century military installations in Texas, and as the last active horse cavalry post in the United States. Its barracks rows, officer housing, administrative buildings and open maneuvering grounds still convey the layout of the post. The form certifies local significance.
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 06001152, listed December 14, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by Ridge, El Paso, Kelly Sts, US 67 and FM 2810, Marfa |
|---|---|
| County | Presidio County |
| Listed | December 14, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06001152 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architectural style | No style |
| Areas of significance | Military, Art |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now used for art foundations, individual dwellings, government offices, businesses and a museum, with some unoccupied land; several original buildings have been demolished. |
| Acreage | 426.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.29600, -104.03570 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 06001152.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5471012
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.