On March 21, 2023, President Biden designated Fort Bliss’s Castner Range as a National Monument. Located in Franklin Mountains near El Paso, Texas, Castner Range is a closed area of Ft. Bliss that will be remediated for public access.

From 1926 to 1966, the U.S. Army primarily used the land for live-fire training, and military munitions remain on much of the property. Although no longer used for training, approximately 6,672 acres of Castner Range remain under Army control.

Castner Range is an area of great scenic beauty and biodiversity, as well as archaeological sites of historic and cultural significance. Castner Range was previously used for training to prepare our Soldiers to fight overseas in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

President Biden’s selection of the U.S. Army as the manager of the site will better enable the service to execute its environmental cleanup responsibilities and leverage its strong, preexisting relationships with the El Paso community. It will also be the first national monument that the military has managed in over 90 years, showcasing the ability of the Army to steward our lands for both military use and the general public.

Situated within Fort Bliss, Texas and the Franklin Mountains, El Paso, Texas, Castner Range contains considerable biodiversity and cultural resources, which merit protection for future generations.

This National Monument designation honors our Veterans, preserves the area for Indigenous peoples, and provides opportunities for the local community to enjoy the area’s natural beauty.

The Army, elected officials, and local partners will host a public celebration near the monument shortly after designation. The Army will also provide a website and other public information about Castner Range.

Source: U.S. Army Website (May 2023)

Establishment Castner Range National Monument — March 21, 2023

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The contents of brochures, site bulletins and trading cards (denoted with a colored caption) can be viewed by clicking on the cover. Most modern-day brochures, however, are cover only (denoted by a white caption) due to photograph copyrights. These items are historical in scope and are intended for educational purposes only; they are not meant as an aid for travel planning. The dates under each brochure do not reflect the complete range of years that a particular brochure was issued.

2023

Archeological and Historical Background Study of Castner Range, Fort Bliss Military Installation, El Paso County, Texas (Elia Perez, September 2016)

Designating Castner Range as a National Monument: The Regional Picture (November 2010)

Fact Sheet: President Biden Designates Castner Range National Monument (March 21, 2023)

Proclamation 10534: Castner Range National Monument (Joseph R. Biden, Jr., March 21, 2023)

Remedial Investigation Report: Military Munitions Response Program Remedial Investigation, Closed Castner Firing Range, Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas Final (June 2018)