Fort Towson, 1 mi. Northeast of Fort Towson, HC 63, Box 1580, Fort Towson

Source document Quoted word for word from HALS OK-30. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Fort Towson, the second fort established in what would become the state of Oklahoma, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated Oklahoma Landmark. It served as fortification along the western boundary of the United States. Soldiers stationed at the fort performed peace keeping operations between Plains Indian tribes and later relocated Southeastern Indians and encroaching white settlers. During the Mexican War troops were sent from the fort into Mexico, and during the Civil War Confederate Troops occupied the fort. The last Confederate general to lay down arms, Cherokee Brig. Gen. Stand Waite, made the fort headquarters for operations within Indian Territory.

History: Built a few months after Fort Gibson in Fort Towson holds the distinction of the second fort built in present-day Oklahoma. It was named in honor of Army Paymaster General Nathan Towson, and was constructed near the intersection of the Kiamichi and Red rivers in the southeastern section of what was then Indian Territory. Originally, the fort was built to help maintain peace in the area and serve as a buffer between Plains Indian tribes. It would serve as a dispersal point during Indian removal, especially among the Choctaws. The site also served as a gateway for settlers into Texas during the Among notable figures to travel through Fort Towson on their way to Texas were Davy Crockett, Ben Milam, Sam Houston, and Stephen F. Austin.

During the Mexican War, the fort was a staging area for troops sent into Mexico. By however, the post was abandoned as the western boundary of the United States steadily moved westward. During the Civil War, the Confederate Army used the site as headquarters for their operations in Indian Territory. Cherokee Brig. General Stand Waite was stationed at the fort. He was the last Confederate General to surrender at the end of the Civil War. Today, only building foundations remain from the original structures. The property was purchased by the Oklahoma Historical Society in A period Suttler's Store and Visitor Center have been constructed since then and several archaeological sites have been established in or around the property. FORT TOWSON HALS NO. OK-30 PAGE 2

Source document Quoted word for word from HALS OK-30. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Steve Eilers, December 10, West Stillwater, OK steve. eilers (alokstate.edu Dr. Charles Leider Professor and Director of the Landscape Architecture Program Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Department 360 AG Hall Stillwater, OK Office: charles.leiderfalokstate.edu FORT TOWSON HALS NO. OK-30 PAGE 3 ' ';' Fort Towson ruins (National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form: accessed December 10, Sutler's Store (Keith Tolman, "Fort Towson," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture: accessed December 10,