fort washita historic site

I am a regular visitor to Fort Washita from the DFW metroplex. I have been visiting the fort for more ten years on an annual basis and usually sleep there for two nights on the weekend. As a member of a reenactment group, we get to 'rent' the area and take advantage of the grounds, including the cabins. While I could go on and on about the history of the fort and the fun I have as a reenactor here, I will try to focus this review for casual visitors. When you arrive at the fort visitors should start at the office where a small museum will give you a brief overview of the fort and its purpose. After that, you must tour the cemetery and cabins. The cemetery has military graves and Indian graves from the various tribes and families that lived here. The Bohanan cabin (located a few yards behind the office) is really cool. It has very strange history and can be very creepy to sleep in (google most haunted places in Oklahoma and you can read about the haunted history of the fort). There is also another cabin about 200 yards down the hill from the ruins that has a pen for horses that is also used by reenactors occasionally. The ruins themselves are very interesting and using your imagination you can reconstruct an image of what it might have been like to have been stationed there in the 1840s. Other than those obvious destinations, there are several trails around the area with really cool wooden bridges and even an old ghost town that used to be located near the fort. Although there is nothing there but a sign and some foundations, it is very interesting to see what once was. The last thing to see before you leave is the Confederate cemetery at the base of the hill from the fort. There were dozens of C.S. troops that died here during the Civil War, but not from bullets. The post still flies a Confederate flag to remember these soldiers stationed in the abandoned federal fort during the four year war. *If you are flexible make sure to visit when there are Civil War, Indian War, or Mountain Man reenactors who absolutely love to gather at the fort.

Love Love Love this place. Holds lots of family memories and many more to come. The grounds are very well kept. Do as much or as little as you like. We always take a picnic, kites, etc. We visit as a group or go during a festival. Either way, it's a nice time

Out in the boonies...but the people there were so friendly and told us all kinds of interesting information about the fort...nice side trip for us..and we liked the history we learned

I took my son there for a birthday party. He enjoyed the whole trip. They let him shoot the cannon, and operate the blacksmith. It is well kept and plenty of space for the kids to run around. They sidewalks so it is easy to get around. We went during an renactment so they had plenty of stalls selling all kinds of stuff and food ventors on the site. They have tables close to the parking area for parties also.

I drove to Fort Washita for the first time in about 25 years and was very pleased to see how well they have kept up the grounds. I was told the best time to go is when they do reenactments and will really try to do that in the future. Wonderful place to experience American history.

Because we were nearly the only ones in this lovely, out of the way fotrmer fort, we lucked out-- enjoying a personalized tour of its history, a walk back through yesteryear with tales of Choctaws, Chicksaws, and live, de-feathered chickens applied to snake bites....

A glimpse of the old time past. Many legends of haunted spots and grave sites. The cabins look as though the person just left.

My family and I took the ghost tour at Fort Washita. The tour was so much fun. Having been on other ghost tours, we knew it would be stories and historical events told mostly. So if you're expecting a ghost hunt or investigation , this may not be what you think. Our tour guide, Steven, was so good! He really knew his stuff and shared his personal experiences with us. I can honestly say at times I got scared and had goosebumps. This has never happened to me on a tour before. It's such a spooky environment at night. Creepy! Best part of the tour was the old bridge. Yikes. the Indian burial ground / cemetery is not included in the tour, but when it was over they offered to take a small group up there. Really cool. You can tell the volunteers love what they do. All the money from the tickets and merchandise goes to the fort and re-building the barracks that vandals burned down a few years ago. Well worth the $10. I highly recommend this tour.

My wife and I visited this historic site on a day with a temperature in the high 90s. Fort Washita was built in the early 1840s and commissioned by General Zachary Taylor. The US Army occupied the fort until the outbreak of the Civil War. The fort was abandoned ahead of a Confederate advance from Texas, and due to the loyalty to the Confederacy of the surrounding Indian tribes. A Confederate force occupied the fort on the following day.Admission to Fort Washita is free, but there is a donation box in the office. There are two sets of restrooms on the grounds and places for people to have a picnic. There are remnants of a number of the original buildings and some interesting displays in the office. I wouldn’t make a special trip, but it is worth a visit if you are in the area. Should you have any questions about this review, feel free to send me a message.

One of my favorite weekend places to visit as a child. There is just a feeling of history that surrounds Fort Washita. Maybe because it isn't in town or surrounded by houses or other tourist stops it truly feels like you have stepped back in history when you visit the ruins of one of Oklahoma's historical forts. The cemeteries on the property are fascinating and truly feel like sacred ground. The grounds are well maintained and taken care of, and it is an easy walk to visit the different sites on the tour.

This little known historic site is worth a visit. Some building are intact and others are scenic ruins. Beautiful grounds

This is one of the few historic monuments in the Durant area, and it may not be very spectacular, but I think it worth a while (max 2 hours). It is nice walk around the buildings, and do not miss the burial grounds. There is pretty old graves in good condition. The whole facility is immaculate clean and maintained.The guide in the museum store is very instructive, and as I think there I very few visitors, you will make his day by showing some interest. We enjoyed the visit big time and I encourage you to put up the donation asked for, as the entrance is free and the money for the maintenance must come from somewhere.