Fort Towson Historic Site

05/14/2026

Join the Sam Bell Maxey House and Fort Towson Historic Site for a free webinar that explores the story of Sam Bell Maxey and his leadership in the Indian Territory during the American Civil War. This webinar will highlight the history of Fort Towson along with the Native American communities of the region and their complex roles within the Confederate States of America.

Join us on Thursday, May 14 at 6:00 pm for an engaging historical overview.

Register for the webinar at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OBu8uvm9S4Sae1i6PD1Gng

05/13/2026

24th Missouri Volunteer Infantry
May 16, 2026, Schedule
Fort Towson Historic Site

Morning----------Drill
1 p.m.-------------19th century soldiers’ punishment
~2 p.m.------------Packing for a campaign event
~3 p.m. ------------19th century cooking; garrison vs. campaign

While many of the activities will be the unit’s members focusing on improving their own historical impressions and working together as a unit, visitors are welcome to watch and learn along with ask questions.

Times and topics subject to change.

Site opens to the public at 9 a.m. and closes at 4:30 p.m.

Image: Union reenactors standing in rows of two on the Fort Towson Historic Site's parade ground. In the background are trees and the white flagpole.

05/11/2026

They served at Fort Towson...

Private John E. Jessup

Fort Towson’s post return for January 1842 had a remark which stated “Pvt. John E. Jessup deserted 22nd July 1834[?]. Was apprehended on the 9th Oct. 1841 by Capt. W.[?] W.[?] Morris, 4th Art. at Detroit Arsenal where he is now in confinement.” If Jessup did indeed desert during July 1834, he would have most likely been a member of the Third Infantry Regiment’s Co. I. This company was among those which reestablished Fort Towson after its abandonment from 1829 until early to mid 1831. When Jessup deserted, the commander of the company was Captain John B. Clark.

05/09/2026

Don't forget Fort Towson Historic Site's Night Tour will take place on May 22 with the tour beginning at 8:30 p.m. Attendees will be guided among the post's ruins marked by candle lanterns where the guides will discuss the history of the site and the people who lived and visited there during the nineteenth century.

Cost is $10 per person, and registration is advised as opening are limited. For questions or to register please call 580-873-2634 or email [email protected].

We hope to see you there!

05/08/2026

Fort Towson Historic Site to Host Dutch Oven Gathering on May 30

FORT TOWSON, Okla. — The Fort Towson Historic Site will host a Dutch oven gathering on Saturday, May 30, from 9 a.m.-noon. The quarterly event is FREE for participants and guests. All are welcome to participate in this informal event.

The talents of local cast iron chefs will be on display at the Fort Towson Historic Site, with each person setting up their outdoor kitchen and preparing delicious treats. The event will be a time for Dutch oven enthusiasts to gather for fellowship, demonstrate Dutch oven cooking skills and introduce the public to the joy of outdoor cooking in cast iron. Registration is required for those who plan to cook.

Cooking outdoors with a camp Dutch oven is as much about the process as it is the food. Guests at this event will see every part of the process, including lighting charcoal or fire, preparing the food and heat management. They will observe that each cook has their own favorite techniques, tools and unique style. Samples of the delicious dishes will be available at noon.

Dutch oven gatherings are community-led events held quarterly at the Fort Towson Historic Site. All are welcome to attend, and cooks are urged to register to receive updates. For more information about the events or to register to cook at the “Dutch Oven Gathering,” call 580-873-2634 or email [email protected]. The Fort Towson Historic Site is located at 896 N. 4375 Rd. in Fort Towson.

05/07/2026

On May 14, 2026, at 6 p.m., staff from the Sam Bell Maxey House in Paris, TX, and the Fort Towson Historic Site will be holding a joint live webinar regarding Maxey and his role in Indian Territory during the American Civil War. Please join in for this event!

05/05/2026

The Oklahoma Historical Society is working to fill the position of Historical Interpreter at the Fort Towson Historic Site. If wanting to join the site's crew as a historian, tour guide, and a few other hats, please follow this link in order to complete an application:

Job Posting Title Historical Interpreter at Fort Towson Agency 350 HISTORICAL SOCIETY Supervisory Organization Historical Society–Museums & Sites Region 2 Job Posting End Date Refer to the date listed at the top of this posting, if available. Continuous if date is blank. Note: Applications wil...

05/04/2026

Fort Towson’s Historical Definitions

What were epaulets/epaulettes?

Epaulets, also know as epaulettes, were uniform jacket or coat shoulder décor and rank insignia. The part on top of the shoulder was a flat circle or oval with a flat bar running across the shoulder toward the neck. Epaulets for enlisted men were sometimes simple brass while those for officers were much fancier with fabric and fringe. Those for officers often had symbols noting what exact rank they were, such as a gold oak leaf for a major.

Image: Unidentified soldier with full beard in Union uniform with brass epaulettes, c. 1861 – 1865 (image courtesy of the Library of Congress).

05/03/2026

Fort Towson Historic Site Offering Rare Nighttime Tour of Grounds on May 22

Images: Flyer for the event. Shown in the main picture are the Fort Towson Historic Site’s Nighttime Tour of Grounds guides David C. Reed and Kenny Sivard while assisting with an event at Fort Gibson in that site’s wooden stockade. Other image is of a wooden and glass lantern with a burning candle.

FORT TOWSON, Okla. — The Fort Towson Historic Site will host a nighttime guided tour of the grounds on Friday, May 22, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Historians will lead guests through parts of the expansive property in a rare chance for visitors to be on site after dark.

David C. Reed, site director at Fort Towson Historic Site, and Kenny Sivard, an Oklahoma Historical Society board member, will guide visitors along the post’s parade ground and ruins, which will be lit by candle lanterns. The guides will stop along most foundations and discuss what the structures would have been used for and the history of Fort Towson. This information will expand on what is currently in the museum’s exhibits and site’s signage.

A military post’s history is not just about the structures, but more importantly, about the people who lived and visited there. Among the people at Fort Towson during the 1850s were Captain Charles S. Hamilton with his wife, Sophia, and their young son, Charles. In her 1908 memoir “Merrily I Roll Along,” Sophia talks about their journey by boat and land from New York to Fort Towson. She describes life at the post, including upon arrival, the lack of furniture in their quarters, and their trips to Doaksville and the people they met. Stories like these bring a military post to life in the minds of staff and visitors.

Fort Towson was an important post during the United States’ westward expansion and was in use by the U.S. military from 1824 to 1854. Today, the site is home to a visitor center, reconstructed sutler store and walking trail of the historic ruins.

The cost of the night tour is $10 per person. If you attend this event, please wear appropriate clothing, including closed-toe shoes. Bug spray is recommended. Flashlights will be allowed while walking between stops.

For more information or to register, call 580-873-2634 or email [email protected]. The Fort Towson Historic Site is located at 896 N. 4375 Rd. in Fort Towson.

05/02/2026

Ever wondered what the temperature was a hundred, a hundred and fifty or two hundred years ago? If so, here is a historic temperature vs. today’s temperature at the Fort Towson Historic Site! The historical temperature of Fort Towson on May 2, 1829, was 82 degrees at 2 p.m. vs the Fort Towson Historic Site's modern, May 2, 2026, temperature of 72 degrees at 2 p.m.

Image: On the left foreground of the photo is a corner of the red sutler store with yellow trim. The porch alongside it is also visible. The rest of the image is of trees casting shadows.

04/30/2026

On Saturday, May 16, the 24th Missouri Volunteer Infantry reenacting unit will be at the Fort Towson Historic Site. Members of the 24th Missouri will be participating in a muster at the post. They will be taking part in activities, such as drills, that help them with their own portrayal of history.

The public is invited to come and watch as the unit goes about its muster. When unit members are not busy with their own duties, visitors may ask questions. From 10 a.m. until about noon, visitors can watch the unit drill. At 1 p.m., the 24th Missouri will host a public program on 1860s military discipline. Visitors may also get a chance to see some period military cooking.

This event will be free to the public, including entry into the site’s museum. So, make sure to come out, watch, and learn about the 24th Missouri Volunteer Infantry’s military history.