Fort Davis National Park Service sponsors youth art contest

FORT DAVIS – An art and photograph contest for young people ages 5 to 18 is being sponsored by Fort Davis National Historic Site (NHS). Cash prizes of $50 and $25 will be given to winners in each age category. The contest commemorates the 50th anniversary of the park’s establishment as a unit of the National Park Service in 1961.

Children from area communities are cordially invited to submit either a drawing or photograph taken at the Fort. Entries can be of historic or natural features.

All entries must be dropped off at the park or received by mail on or before Saturday, October 1. The park is open 8am to 5pm daily. Mailing address: Fort Davis NHS P.O. Box 1379 Fort Davis, TX 79734. For more information, call 432-426-3224 ext. 220.

Winning art and photo entries will be displayed at the park on Saturday, October 8. All day, there will be town-wide celebrations commemorating the founding of Fort Davis State Bank and Jeff Davis County, including a barbecue on the courthouse lawn.

At the Fort, festivities on Oct. 8 will begin at 3pm — including a concert by the Fort Bliss army band, special guided tours, special exhibits memorializing the visit of Lady Bird Johnson to Fort Davis in 1966, children’s activities, and a string band performance with dancing at the restored post hospital from 5 to 6pm.

Park entrance fees to Fort Davis NHS will be waived that day. The park will close at 7pm.