Fort D. A. Russell
Fort D. A. Russell
4
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A former U.S. Cavalry post called Camp Marfa which was the bachelor officers quarters and party house of Fort D.A. Russell from the late 1800s to the end of World War 2.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
18 reviews
Excellent
10
Very good
4
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2
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0
Terrible
2
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ORR
Munich, Germany143 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
First of all, two clarifications: This attraction is definitely not a fort in the usual sense and actually not an art museum either, but rather a historical site that documents the accommodation of German prisoners of war. They probably had a rather unconventional relationship with the guards and were able to decorate the various rooms with wall frescoes in their free time.
The interesting place is difficult to find due to a complete lack of signs (GPS 30° 18.071' N 104° 01.633 W) and whether it can be visited depends on whether the supervisor is on site.
The museum is to be sold. Hopefully it will end up in good hands.
The interesting place is difficult to find due to a complete lack of signs (GPS 30° 18.071' N 104° 01.633 W) and whether it can be visited depends on whether the supervisor is on site.
The museum is to be sold. Hopefully it will end up in good hands.
Written May 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jacqueline07_69
Nijmegen, The Netherlands459 contributions
Nov 2014 • Couples
This is a complex that has been a part of Fort D.A. Russell and housed the officer’s club. In World War II it housed prisoners of war of the African army of Rommel. In a couple of rooms two of them (R. Hampel and Hans Jurgen Press) painted some beautiful murals, inspired by the great landscapes surrounding Marfa. It’s impressive to see the rural scenes on the walls, very real. Nowadays the historic buildings are owned by the International Woman’s Foundation. The opening hours vary, it’s best to call before you visit but we went just to hope someone was there and we were lucky the 2nd time (1st time was around lunchtime, we were staying at the Paisano so close by). The very friendly and charming lady who was our guide happened to be the president of the Foundation, Mrs. Mona Blocker Garcia. She was very nice and had lots of fascinating stories about the buildings. She lead us all through the buildings and we were allowed to take photographs, also of the really impressive murals. Also fascinating is that General Patton visited the fort and stayed there, we saw the bar and the spot where he used to stand, like I said a lot of history there. We want to thank Mona for her hospitality and her time to tour us through and around the buildings. It was really an experience I didn’t want to miss and we’re glad that the buildings now will be preserved with those beautiful rooms and murals within the buildings.
Written March 15, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
noplacetogo
Texas215 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
I had heard a little about the military base and less about the murals by Italian prisoners. Nestled among Chinati Foundation properties and not a lot of signage available, a visit is certainly worthwhile. Our guide was informative and patient with our questions. Some of the facility is a work in progress. These are former military buildings that have undergone privatization. You see the buildings in their various incarnations. The murals were our main interest and they were interesting. Enjoyable visit.
Written April 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
robby1029tx
Pflugerville, TX9 contributions
Aug 2018 • Solo
I'm glad everybody else has "loved" it so far...……. wish I could say the same, however it was closed at 2 pm on a Wednesday.
Apparently you have to make an appointment, to go inside and take a tour, like a VIP, or a Billionaire, or a Foreign Dignitary.
Very lame, for a small town, with NOT MUCH ELSE TO OFFER.
Apparently you have to make an appointment, to go inside and take a tour, like a VIP, or a Billionaire, or a Foreign Dignitary.
Very lame, for a small town, with NOT MUCH ELSE TO OFFER.
Written September 11, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WeirdHarold
Santa Fe, NM69 contributions
Oct 2014 • Friends
We visited Building 98 for the opening of an exhibit titled “Degrees of Separation”, an international collaboration. Four each photographers, artists and writers from Louisiana, four of each from France, were selected to contribute, and to interact with and respond to each others' works. It's hard to describe but well worth seeing. (Full disclosure: our daughter is one of the writers.) The exhibit will be on display Oct. 5 - Dec. 13, 2014.
There are other exhibits, too. The historic building itself is interesting, and is being restored by The International Woman's Foundation.
There are other exhibits, too. The historic building itself is interesting, and is being restored by The International Woman's Foundation.
Written October 10, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TomnLindaBellingham_WA_USA
Bellingham, WA28 contributions
Apr 2012 • Couples
The only known instance of murals by German POWs during WWII. Very interesting.
Written May 29, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
casgarcia11
Jensen Beach, FL17 contributions
Building 98 is part of Fort DA Russell where German prisoners of war were held during World War 2. The building (12,000 sq ft) was the original Bachelor Officer's quarters at Fort DA Russell.
The building contains two large rooms that are decorated with mural depicting the landscapes and scenes of West Texas and were painted by two German prisoners of war. Most of the POWS were captured by Patton in North Africa from Rommel's Africa Corps. Patton himself drank in the officer's bar and lived in the building from time to time during the war.
These are the only existing murals of this kind anywhere in the country. Building 98 was rescued from ruin in 2003 and has been renovated ($1.25 million to date).
In 2010, the son of one of the artists, Hans Jurgen Press, was located in Munich, Germany through an exhaustive search of World War 2 archives in Berlin.
Hans Jurgen Press went on to become one of the most well known children's book illustrator in Germany.
There are black and white panoramic photos in the front entryway that depict the era when the US Cavalry was based in Marfa. Tours of Building 98 are available every day.
For anyone who is interested in military history, this is a must see.
The building contains two large rooms that are decorated with mural depicting the landscapes and scenes of West Texas and were painted by two German prisoners of war. Most of the POWS were captured by Patton in North Africa from Rommel's Africa Corps. Patton himself drank in the officer's bar and lived in the building from time to time during the war.
These are the only existing murals of this kind anywhere in the country. Building 98 was rescued from ruin in 2003 and has been renovated ($1.25 million to date).
In 2010, the son of one of the artists, Hans Jurgen Press, was located in Munich, Germany through an exhaustive search of World War 2 archives in Berlin.
Hans Jurgen Press went on to become one of the most well known children's book illustrator in Germany.
There are black and white panoramic photos in the front entryway that depict the era when the US Cavalry was based in Marfa. Tours of Building 98 are available every day.
For anyone who is interested in military history, this is a must see.
Written September 23, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Building 98 is not run by the Chinati Foundation. It is managed by the owners of Building 98
Written June 10, 2012
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
MicksterMom
Springtown, TX61 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
We loved this place. We spent two hours walking around and talking with our guide Barry.
Does it take 2 hours? No, but we so enjoyed our time.
Great WWI and WWII connection. Don't miss seeing the bar, the murals, and Mrs. Roosevelt's re-designed bedroom (if it is available to see).
Does it take 2 hours? No, but we so enjoyed our time.
Great WWI and WWII connection. Don't miss seeing the bar, the murals, and Mrs. Roosevelt's re-designed bedroom (if it is available to see).
Written May 6, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Danny H
2 contributions
Sep 2016 • Friends
Don't miss this. This small housing unit for Army officers holds stories of soldiers who chased Pancho Villa and took orders from a young officer who later became General Patton. Liberated Nazi's, brought from the North African theatre were brought all the way back to Texas and upon discovering that 2 of them were trained artists, were put to work painting murals on the walls. Be sure to push open the front door or you may think the place is closed. History happened here!
Written September 25, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WestTexasTown
El Paso, TX53 contributions
Feb 2015 • Family
We visited Building 98 and toured the exhibit. Then we went Chinati Foundation which is housed at the Fort. We toured the Donald Judd Outdoor exhibit. We also visited his aluminum works which are housed in two converted artillery sheds. If you go to Marfa you must visit here. They are open Wednesday - Sunday. Part of the exhibit requires a fee.
Written July 29, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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