Champion Hall, which served as the medical laboratory and isolation ward at Fort Brown in Brownsville, Texas, until World War I. The fort was a military post of the United States Army in Texas during the later half of 19th century and the early part of the 20th century. In 1846, under orders from Zachary Taylor, Captain Joseph K. Mansfield built a star-shaped earthwork for 800 men called "Fort Texas" on the northern side of the Rio Grande, "by the order from General Taylor to command the city of Matamoros". The next year, the fort played a role during the opening of the Mexican-American War. During the Siege of Fort Texas, two Americans were killed, including Major Jacob Brown. In honor of the fallen major, General Zachary Taylor renamed the post Fort Brown. In 1849, the city of Brownsville, Texas, was established not far from the fort's grounds. Almost a century later, on Feburary 1, 1946, Fort Brown was decommissioned and turned over to the Army Corps of Engineers. It was acquired by the City of Brownsville in 1948 and became part of what is now the Texas Southmost College campus. Photo by Carol Highsmith.