West Central El Paso in El Paso County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

William Beaumont General Hospital /Biggs Air Force Base
⎯⎯⎯
Fort Bliss

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 4, 2010

1. William Beaumont General Hospital /Biggs Air Force Base / Fort Bliss Marker

Inscription.
William Beaumont General Hospital This famous army hospital opened in 1921 and was named for Major & Surgeon William Beaumont, who distinguished himself as an army surgeon during the war of 1812. Later his observations of the stomach of Alexis St. Martin, which was exposed by a gunshot wound, made great and lasting contributions to the knowledge of the physiology of human digestion. He served this nation well, as does the hospital which bears his name.

Biggs Air Force Base Formerly Biggs Field. It is a powerful arm of the U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command and was first used in March, 1916 by the U. S. Army First Aero Squadron en route to Columbus, New Mexico, following the Pancho Villa raid. In 1925, it was officially named in honor of Lt. James B. Biggs, native El Pasoan. During World War II, it trained bombing crews who served their country with honor and distinction.

Fort Bliss The post of El Paso was created in 1848 and after four moves, came to its present location in 1893. In 1854, the post was named Fort Bliss for Lt. Col. W. W. S. Bliss. His remains are buried there and a monument stands in his name.

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Early day troops protected caravans and settlers from the Indians, and its garrisons also served valiantly in the Spanish American War, World Wars I and II and the Korean conflict. It is now the home of the great U.S. Army Air Defense Center.

Erected 1962 by The State National Bank of El Paso.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, Spanish-American • War, World I • War, World II • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1916.

Location. 31° 46.964′ N, 106° 28.776′ W. Marker is in El Paso, Texas, in El Paso County. It is in West Central El Paso. It is on Scenic Drive, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2208 Scenic Drive, El Paso TX 79902, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Trans-Pecos & Big Bend Region.

It is also in the American Borderlands

and in the Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic

William Beaumont General Hospital - <i>Left</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 4, 2010

2. William Beaumont General Hospital - Left

of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Scenic Drive (here, next to this marker); El Paso International Airport / The Butterfield Trail / Refinery Area (here, next to this marker); The Rio Grande Rectification Project (a few steps from this marker); El Paso Lower Valley Missions/ Cordova Island/ The City and County of El Paso (a few steps from this marker); The Franklin Mountains (a few steps from this marker); The Rainmakers of 1891 (a few steps from this marker); The Rio Grande Irrigation Project (a few steps from this marker); The Chamizal Settlement (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in El Paso.

Also see . . . The History of Fort Bliss: From Military Post to Modern Base. Handbook of Texas website entry (Submitted on February 22, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Biggs Air Force Base - <i>Center</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 4, 2010

3. Biggs Air Force Base - Center

Fort Bliss - <i>Right</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 4, 2010

4. Fort Bliss - Right

Wide view of the William Beaumont General Hospital /Biggs Air Force Base / Fort Bliss Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by PaulwC3, July 19, 2013

5. Wide view of the William Beaumont General Hospital /Biggs Air Force Base / Fort Bliss Marker

Fort Bliss and the Biggs Air Force Base are visible in the sunlit distance.

Mount Franklin Scenic Area image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 4, 2010

6. Mount Franklin Scenic Area

Marker is located at the far end of wall.

Fort Bliss in the 20th Century image. Click for full size.

Photographed by PaulwC3, July 20, 2013

7. Fort Bliss in the 20th Century

The weapons of Fort Bliss of the 20th Century on display at the Fort Bliss and Old Ironsides Museum. They range from artillery and tanks to early rocketry.

Lt. Col. William Wallace Smith Bliss monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed by PaulwC3, July 20, 2013

8. Lt. Col. William Wallace Smith Bliss monument

The original grave marker of Fort Bliss's namesake. Originally buried in New Orleans, he was reburied at the Fort Bliss National Cemetery in 1955. The monument was moved from the Girard Street Cemetery to the main post's parade ground.

Fort Bliss Replica Museum (1948) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by PaulwC3, July 20, 2013

9. Fort Bliss Replica Museum (1948)

Built to commemorate one hundred years of U.S. military presence in El Paso, it recreates the buildings and living conditions of Fort Bliss at Magoffinsville (1853-1868).

Credits. This page was last revised on February 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 12, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 2,369 times since then and 68 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 12, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 5. submitted on September 2, 2013, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. 6. submitted on November 12, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 7, 8, 9. submitted on September 1, 2013, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.

William Beaumont General Hospital /Biggs Air Force Base⎯⎯⎯Fort Bliss

William Beaumont General Hospital /Biggs Air Force Base
⎯⎯⎯
Fort Bliss