Fort Towson Historic Site

08/15/2026

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 August 15, 1831, was 88 degrees Fahrenheit at 2 p.m. vs the Fort Towson Historic Site's modern, August 15, 2026, temperature of 97 degrees Fahrenheit at 2 p.m.

08/13/2026

I would like to thank State Historian Dr. Matthew Pearce and others who were involved with the placement of a new historical marker east of Hugo, OK. This marker, a replacement, is about the history regarding Robert M. Jones’s (Choctaw) Rose Hill Plantation. Thanks to those who got the monument setup, people can once again get a glimpse into this part of history in southeastern Oklahoma.

I didn’t realize a new monument was getting placed until today when I saw it in the Oklahoma Historical Society’s staff newsletter. So, thank you again to Dr. Pearce and others involved with this wonderful work!

David C. Reed
Fort Towson Historic Site Director

08/13/2026

Please do not fret about me as I have safely arrived at my destination, the Forest Heritage Center. Though I hear tell of various wildlife in the area, the only bear I have met so far is this one carved from wood. I will write later and let you know how my adventure is going.

Nathaniel T.

08/13/2026

The Honey Springs Battlefield is a great place to visit, especially with its Museum during this hot summer. It is great they are a National Underground Railroad Site!

Did you know that Honey Springs is part of the National Underground Railroad: Network to Freedom? ⭐

We are! You can stamp your national park passport at Honey Springs to document your visit to the site!

Explore other Network to Freedom sites here: https://www.nps.gov/.../undergroundrailroad/ntf-listings.htm

08/13/2026

Heat Warning

Please be aware that Southeast Oklahoma is seeing extreme heat and will continue to do so with the temperatures in the 100s.

If planning on visiting and walking the Fort Towson Historic Site or Doaksville’s grounds, please come early, be safe, and stay hydrated. Which, we do have our nice and cool Museum and Research Library to visit and get out of the heat.

Only service animals are allowed in the Museum, so due to the extreme heat please leave any pets at home.

08/10/2026

They served at Fort Towson...

Captain George Andrews

On July 1, 1823, George Andrews graduated from the US Military Academy. Upon graduation, he was made a second lieutenant in the Sixth Infantry Regiment. By May 1842, Andrews, now a captain commanding his regiment’s Co. I, was at Fort Towson. He took command of the post on Nov. 28, 1842, but by the next month had been relieved of that duty. May 1843 found Andrews absent from the post. He returned to the fort on Oct. 18, 1843. That December, he again took command of Fort Towson and continued as post commander until Feb. 1845. He was stationed at the post through that Oct. Andrews retired from the military on Feb. 15, 1862, and passed away Nov. 13, 1873, in Maryland.

08/07/2026

Come see us! It is hot outside, but the Museum is cool!

08/06/2026

I just wanted to drop a line to let everyone at the Fort know I am on my way to the Forest Heritage Center. My joints are not what they used to be, so here I am stretched out in my ride. Public safety announcement, don’t drive like this, somebody else drove me.

Nathaniel T.

08/04/2026

The Fort Towson Historic Site's August 2026 newsletter, "The Towson Telegraph," is now available for viewing. We hope you enjoy!

08/03/2026

Fort Towson’s Historical Definitions

What is a canteen?

A canteen is a vessel used to store liquid to drink. By the American Civil War, 1861 – 1865, canteens were mostly made from tin though there were still wooden canteens. These vessels were small enough to be easily carried by a strap going over a soldier’s shoulder. Water is one of the most important things needed to survive, and according to an October 19, 2020, BBC article, “Most scientists agree humans can only go for a few days without taking in any food or water.”

Image: Unidentified soldier in Union uniform with canteen and bayoneted musket, c. 1861 – 1865 (image courtesy of the Library of Congress).