The Fort Griffin State Historical Park, commonly known as Fort Griffin, was founded in 1867 as a US Cavalry Fort under the command of Lt. Col. S. D. Sturgis. Located in western North Texas, the area was used to protect settlers from early Kiowa and Comanche raids in the 17th and 18th centuries. In 2008, Fort Griffin was transferred from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to the Texas Historical Commission. Many expeditions, especially towards the west, originated from this fort. The fort had a community set-up around it which facilitated transit of wagons and trains. The climate of the area is characterised by scorching summers and mild to cool winters.