Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
The more than 59,000 acres of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge are home to herds of buffalo, elk, deer and longhorn cattle. Visitors can hike miles of trails, fish in mountain lakes, and watch and photograph wildlife. Take a guided tour of the refuge, or climb 2, 200-foot Mount Scott, which offers expansive views of the surrounding area.
Us Army Field Artillery Museum
The U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum showcases military weaponry from the 1700s to the present day. From small arms to Howitzers, you can view weapons and learn about their history and use in three galleries. A display of uniforms traces the history of military clothing, and a gift shop sells military history books, postcards and replica weaponry.
The Artillery Ocs Hall Of Fame
The Fort Sill Artillery OCS Hall of Fame in Durham Hall is closed. The Hall of Fame has been in this location since 1984 and operated and maintained by OCS Alumni volunteers since 1999. The entire OCS Collection was moved to a local storage facility and the building was turned over to the Fort Sill Directorate of Public Works on October 15, 2021.Transition to a virtual on-line Artillery OCS Experience and Hall of Fame is underway. An extensive collection of OCS photos and historic documents is being prepared for a new Artillery OCS website. The items will be available to the public on interactive kiosks inside a 3,200 square foot annex to the south wing of the US Army Artillery Museum at Fort Sill. The new building, which is a gift to Fort Sill from the graduates and friends of the Artillery OCS will serve as a classroom-theater for the Museum and the walls will feature OCS history storyboards, display cases and other memorabilia.
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Fort Sill National Historic Landmark & Museum
The Fort Sill National Historic Landmark & Museum is a 19th century frontier army post consisting of approximately 50 buildings and the grounds surrounding them. Fort Sill is perhaps best known as the home of Geronimo during his later years and is also an operating Army military base.
Fort Sill was founded by General Philip Sheridan during a winter campaign against the Southern Plains tribes in 1869. The renowned Buffalo Soldiers were stationed at Fort Sill in the 1870s and provided major assistance in the construction of the post. This African-American regiment was given their nickname by the Indian tribes they fought in honor of their fierceness in battle. In 1911, Ft. Sill became the home of the U.S. Field Artillery Center and School. Today, the U.S. Field Artillery Museum showcases the history of the cadets who have honed their artillery skills at Fort Sill over the course of a century.
Forty-six of the original Fort Sill structures are still in use and in mint condition. The Post Quadrangle features historic homes, museum buildings and the Post Chapel. The museum’s visitor center is located at the southeast corner of the quadrangle. The Quartermaster Corral was built in 1870 to protect livestock after a Kiowa horse stealing raid.
Self guided tours are available with the use of an audio guide or brochure, although all visitors are required to get a background check through the on-site Visitors Control Center prior to admission onto the base.
Highway Corridors
- I-44
Military Forts Are Always Fun
My main focus at Fort Sill was to visit Quanah Parkers grave. After that I visited all the sites at the Fort and really enjoyed myself. There is quite a bit to see and it is kept very need. There is a lot of history here so gear up!
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This a small but well taken care of musuem where a lot of things not found at others are located here. Fort Sill has a lot of history and you can enjoy at your pace and be amazed at what it has to offer. I must for the Military Buff
was visiting my daughter at Fort Sill, stayed a week. This was a cool place to visit. So much history there. Friendly people
There is a huge collection of machinery and weaponry from WWI all the way through Desert Storm. It is free to see but you can’t climb on anything.
The artillery museum at Fort Sill is very good. It takes you through the different years of the artillery and soldiers at Fort Sill. Great place to spend a few hours. The displays are authentic and the equipment is the actual equipment utilized.
The kids really loved the hands on displays cudnt believe the sizes of some if the vehicles etc,, meant something special as their uncle graduated from ft sill,, liked going on base and seeing graves of Geronimo and family as well and hearing that story,, liked seeing the military tanks weapons etc out for anyone to see and have photo ops with,, big stories to tell st school
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Small But Packed Full
This museum isn’t real big, but they’ve got it jam packed with all the history of Fort Sill. The displays are well lit and very informative. And it’s FREE!
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The Artillery Museum has weapons and vehicles and other exhibits that you are not going to find anywhere else. Very educational and interesting. Old Fort Sill museum was closed for Christmas but I was able to walk and drive around and look through windows. A lot of history here.
To visit here, you need to first go to the Fort Sill visitor center with your ID to get a day pass. Apparently thereâs a golf course and bowling alley because people were coming to play there. The museums are free, and thereâs 2 museum areas. My kids loved seeing how there is an entire city inside those guarded walls. Thereâs a Pizza Hut, Burger King, basketball court, gas station, etc. Behind the buildings opposite the gift shop , thereâs a nice playground. Thereâs a large lawn for playing/relaxing. We could have spent the entire day.
Museum Of The Great Plains
“Exploring the human history of the Great Plains“
The Museum of the Great Plains is dedicated to the collection, preservation, research, interpretation and exhibition of items pertaining to the cultural and natural history of the Great Plains region of North America in effort to increase knowledge and understanding of humankind.
The museums major exhibits reveal the diverse cultures inhabiting the Great Plains region beginning with the arrival of the Paleo-Indians known as the Clovis culture at approximately 11,500 BCE. A variety of educational programs are offered year around. The museum is one of five partner museums in the Oklahoma Museum Network.
The Institute of the Great Plains and the City of Lawton jointly operated the museum until January 1998, when the museum was reorganized and established as a public trust under the laws of Oklahoma. The institute remained in the building as a tenant and has continued its research, education, and publishing functions to aid the museum in its programs. The Museum of the Great Plains Trust Authority has become the governing board of the museum and received 501-c status as an independent non-profit entity in 1999.
Phone: 580-581-3460
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Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Area
Situated near the Wichita Mountains, the Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Area is a popular destination for boaters, fishermen and campers. Rent a canoe or kayak at the lake and camp in tents, RVs or cabins. A swimming beach offers a good place to soak up the sun or paddle in the warm lake water. The lake is open year-round for boating and camping. Enjoy the public boat ramp, miniature golf and the lake store and restaurant.
References
Fort Sill National Historic Landmark
General Philip Sheridan established the original Fort Sill in 1868-69, when the United States was engrossed in a protracted campaign against the southern Plains Indians. Fort Sill was the first post of the famed Buffalo Soldiers African American troops, and the first unit of Native American soldiers, Troop L of the Seventh Cavalry, formed there in 1890. More than 50 buildings make up the Fort Sill National Historic Landmark , giving visitors a comprehensive look at life in a frontier post. Museums on the grounds tell the story of the men who served there, their families and the Native American tribes they fought. Admission to the fort is free.
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Check Out The Photo Gallery
The photo collection continues to grow. We have more than 9,000 photos contained in 198 albums! Included in these are 12 albums containing 338 class pictures from 1951 thru 1973. Check out the Photo Gallery for album links which include photos of the everyday life of a candidate, field training, past reunions and more. We encourage everyone to share OCS photos with us, so we can make them available for viewing on our website and in the Heritage Center.You can contact us at:.
Where History Comes Alive
In late 1868, General Philip H. Sheridan arrived in the area with the 7th US Cavalry under Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer, the 10th US Cavalry under Colonel Benjamin Grierson, the 19th Kansas Volunteers and the 6th US Infantry. The new post was soon staked out and construction began on the permanent stone buildings in 1869-1870. The post was soon named Fort Sill in honor of General Joshua Sill who was killed during the Civil War in 1862. All four of the Black regiments that were later referred to as the âBuffalo Soldiersâ the 9th and 10th US Cavalry and the 24th and 25th Infantry, served at Fort Sill during the late 19th Century.Fort Sill’s primary purpose was to control the Comanche, Cheyenne, Kiowa and other tribes of the Southern Plains who were making frequent raids on settlements in Texas and Mexico.
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Fort Sill Post Trader’s Store
Business operations may be affected due to COVID-19. Please contact the business directly to verify hours.
Most Recent Comments
- A mandatory thorough check in at the base visitor center was an eye opener. Many artillery weapons on display along with tributes to the soldiers who paid the ultimate price. Very touching. 3 museums and an Indian graveyard with Geronimo’s grave.
- This was one of my first ‘post pass’ days and it was here that I saw ‘Atomic Annie’ the first cannon to fire a nuclear shell back in the day. Rich history of the westward movement and the critical role of field artillery in warfare. The ‘King of Battle.’
- May 2017 Ft Sill is a beautiful place to visit. The post has done a great job of modernizing over the past 25 years and the facilities are nice. The museum is very nice and the national Cemetery is the final resting place for the Great Apache Chief Geronimo.
Get The Memories Stirring:
Check out “The OCS Experience ” available in PDF format on the History Page.We are compiling additional information for a new and expanded edition of “The OCS Experience” and encourage everyone to share stories and photos of their artillery OCS experiences. We are pleased to have received so many stories from graduates and have started the editing process. If we have enough interest in the new product, we will offer a professionally printed 8.5 x 11 laminated soft cover book for sale. It will also be available on-line in PDF format. We are currently at 650 pages with 331,000 words. It is loaded with new information.
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