The fort was abandoned in June 1889 and passed into civilian hands. Over the next twenty years, it was divided into residences and businesses, with the buildings repurposed or recycled for their materials. Efforts to preserve and restore Fort Concho began in the 1900s and resulted in the foundation of the Fort Concho Museum in 1929. The property has been owned and operated by the city of San Angelo since 1935. Fort Concho was named a National Historic Landmark on July 4, 1961 and is one of the best-preserved examples of the military installations built by the US Army in Texas.