Fort Washita Historic Site Reviews

The best time to visit Fort Washita is during the haunted walks around Halloween or the Trader Rendezvous during the first weekend of April. (closed on Mondays)

The history is worth learning. It's a shame that many of the structures no longer remain or are just a ruin. But the history of why they were there in the first place is something we need to remember.

Restoration that has been done is good and it's surprising that it is a no fee park. The grounds are well kept and quite beautiful.

Remember the sun screen and water!

A hidden gem in southern Oklahoma. Museum has interesting artifacts and go during the reenactments for a real treat. Blacksmith and even a few ghost stories keeps visitors attention!

I have visited this site several times since I was a child in the 60s. It is a great place to experience the early history of Oklahoma. Originally established in 1842 by General (later President) Zachary Taylor to protect citizens of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations from the Plains Indians it was later abandoned by Federal forces at the beginning of the American Civil War. Confederate troops held the post until the end of the war. My great great grandfather mustered and trained in the Confederate Army at Fort Washita in 1863 or thereabouts. Every Oklahoman should visit Fort Washita at some point in their life.

We had to visit Fort Washita near Durant, OK. Not being from Oklahoma and having lived here just a few years, I was curious about the history of Fort Washita. We were staying at the Choctaw Casino & Hotel
in Durant and when looking for local points of interest we came across Fort Washita. As a career military officer, I was intrigued by Fort Washita. Why was it in the middle of nowhere? What was the significance of placing this fort here? What purpose did it serve. So we drove some 15 miles to see Fort Washita. The Staff Member that was present took an interest in my questions and gave us a quick history lesson. It was very interesting learning about what at the edge the of the frontier and the role the Fort played in the Indian Wars, dealing with The Republic of Texas (prior to statehood), and the renegade settlers. It is an amazing history and part of our nation’s history. Definitely worth stopping by if you’re in the area.

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

This is not the greatest, most impressive fort remains of the American west. But that doesn't matter. What this site represents is a piece of military history very common west of the Mississippi. Fort Washita was established to provide stability in a place that had little, and in this case it was for the relocated Native Americans and not for the protection of white settlers.

Several building have survived intact, and the grounds are beautiful. The chaplains house serves as the museum. It is small, but worthwhile if you're in the area. Don't overlook this less famous, but important, piece of history.

I would have rated this as "Very Good" but for the man in the Chaplains house. Not only did he make us feel very welcome but his explanation of the history of this site was superb. He even let me hold a Kentucky long barrel rifle, a treat for an old Royal Air Force Regiment marksman, I'd have been lucky to shoot my own foot with one of these!
Without this chap taking the time to talk to us our visit would not have been so memorable..

Lots of walking to see the ruins and the cemetery and the little bitty Museum. They are rebuilding the barracks which burned down a few years ago. the trees here are fantastically shaped motivated by the strong winds which are always blowing. Great place for a picnic. the Fort is pretty well haunted by the way. Check out the little cabin which has a resident ghost seen by many visitors at night. I have had several experiences which are not explainable but I wont get into that here. Bring the dogs , the kids and good walking shoes.

Great place to visit. There are several building still standing, most have been burned but the foundations are still there! Very cool!

My father-in-law thought I would be interested in this because of the history and he was right. We actually went on the weekend they were having a re-enactment. People were sleeping and cooking in 1800 style tents, dressed as the late 1800's ect. I loved it.

Actually very little of the Fort remains. The barracks burned a few years ago and only the walls still stand. For history buffs still a great place to go

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....

It's a great place to take the kids to learn about the history and there is a lot of cool stuff to see. We went on a school field trip. I loved it, everyone was so nice.

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

I've been visiting Ft Washita since I was a child and still have as much fun when I take my grandchildren today. You can visit the ruins of the barracks, the cemetary, the haunted cabin or search for the ghost of Aunt Jane. There's an awesome hiking trail for the active and picnic tables for those who want to relax and take in the natural beauty. You can spend a full day there if you take a lunch and water. Highly recommended.

Friend and I came by after Casino visit, he had seen this site online and we both like history so we made the short drive from Durant and glad we did. A documentary was being filmed on site so we were limited on where we could go, but what was saw was very nice, peaceful setting. Very nice visitor center and museum with great, friendly staff members who are eager to share the history of their site. Very glad we made the trip, would like to return someday when I have more time to spend

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.

We have gone when the only thing open was the main building. There you get a tour of that building by a very well informed man. He taught us all about the 1800's. Me and my husband had a wonderful time. The next time was during the Rendezvous. We had such a good time we will be coming back every year. It is in March so look it up online or call the Fort Washita office and ask for the dates in March it will be. They have food, booths, reinactments and history lessons from people in full costume. They do a great job of showing how the fur traders lived, played and faught. Even their kids are dressed up. There is one place that shows a family and how they lived back then. Great time to be had by all. Well worth going and checking out. There is a $5.00 charge per car, no matter how many. All the proceeds go to preservation projects at Fort Washita. You can call 580-924-6502 for more information.

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.

Very large total land area with remains of a Civil War era fort.Very well maintained grounds. Informative staff. Covered picnic tables. Civil War Cemeteries. foundations of original buildings.

I have camped at the fort many times, so many I can't count. I did a lot of activities there with Boy Scouts, in fact my eagle project was to build the current front fence to the fort. It is s great place for kids to explore! Soooo much history and mystery! It feels haunted at night, so very spooky. A great place to visit if you are in the area!

My husband and I went out to the ghost story tour this past October and had a wonderful time. We can't wait to go again this year!

This was my second visit to Fort Washita. Both times the person at the museum was generous with their time, extremely knowledgeable and welcoming of my many questions. Definitely worth a visit especially if you are not from USA and your understanding of that time in history is limited like mine.

Interesting historical site. Most buildings were ruins. Good indoor air conditioning displays explaining the history of the fort.

Not much done with this, but it is the real deal. It was cold when we went, but for a self guided experience, not bad to touch real history.

Riding through the area and stopped in for a visit. Small, but nice visitor center where you can learn some history of the site and pick up a walking tour brochure. The walking tour takes you around the scenic grounds and explains about the structures. There are picnic spots if you want to eat, but nothing available on site. It's too bad one of the main structures was destroyed by vandals, but enough remains to visualize what it was like to live there. Other structures as well. I would allow a few hours.

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.

I didn't know anything about this fort and happened to come across it on TripAdvisor while I was in the area. I learned quite a bit going into the visitor's center first. Be sure to grab the tour map. I left my car in the parking lot and just walked around. There is no charge for admission (donations are accepted). The grounds are well maintained and there is an area for picnics with a small grill. Even though quite a few of the sites are ruins now, it's fun to try and visualize how it was all run back when the fort was in use hundreds of years ago. Enjoy!

Most interesting especially for those interested in the "Old West" and Native American History. Ruins of the old Fort (c. 1842).with signs in front so you know what you are looking at. Also home to a section of the old original wagon trail to California (short section), late 1840's). Visit the Visitor Centre first to get a good idea of what the fort looked like and it's purpose, as well as insight into the day to day life of the soldiers and their families. We did a self tour, but there was an employee there that could answer questions. There was also a mass Confederate grave. This site was purchased and taken over from the State by the Chickasaws last year and they are doing a great job of maintaining this important part of Oklahoma history. If you visit in summer, try to go in the mornings as the Oklahoma summers are very hot. It is a little out of the way (out in the country), but worth the visit. A hidden gem for history buffs.

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

Wonderful stories, appropriate for family with older elementary kids and older. Evweyone was friendly and did a great job. My son is begging to come back next year. Was worth the 3 hour one way drive to go. Hidden gem in SE Oklahoma.

This is a beautiful place to walk around and take family pictures. Lots of old buildings and trees for backdrop. You will learn a little when you're there if you talk to Jim or anyone that works there! Friendly folks and good times! Stop by and enjoy the nostalgia!

Lots of interesting history about native american tribes, civil war and California gold rush. Some structures left. We found all the ones listed on the map. The map is a little hard to follow. The docent at the visitors center was very informative.

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.

A very interesting and peaceful place. Made all the more rewarding my the informative and personable staff. Apparently changes are afoot with the Chickasaw nation taking over operation of this site so hopefully it will only get better.

Beautiful grounds, well maintained, but really muddy after these few days of rain. Make sure you stop by the museum/office/chaplain barracks to pick up the walking tour guide; it has a map, and a summary for each building/ruin. Very friendly and helpful office staff.

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.

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

Good size park to walk around or drive in. Kids will like running around also check for differnt programs going on at the park.

Grounds were beautiful, we walked around and had picnic on the grounds. Caretaker gave us the whole history of the fort which was educational and interesting. He also gave us info on recent floods in the area. Was a nice quiet stop. Many grassy fields and interesting artifacts and maps

Set in the rolling hills 20 miles north of the Texas border, this was a great experience for my teen age son and I. The staff were super nice and knowledgeable. It is self guided, but staff will provide great information if you want to go that route. The structures are well labeled and a short walk will allow you to see it all. There is a Confederate cemetery on site, log cabins, water well. The historic east west wagon trail runs right through the fort and it is still visible. It was part of the California Gold Rush route early settlers used. It has all paved roads and well maintained grounds.

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.

This is a beautiful historical site, with huge trees and rolling hills, and historic buildings and ruins of building of the fort. Make sure you take the short hike at the west end of the park to the Government Springs, down a nice trail. Wonderful place to take kids of all ages, with plenty of space to run around, and picnic tables. Clean restrooms available.

Other than some hoodlems burning down the main barracks a few years back, this place has a great history as far as Settling Ok. During October, there is a Halloween function there.

We learned a lot regarding the role this fort played in the US history oh the 1800's. It was one of the destination forts for the "Trail of Tears" NativeAmericans. The fort was a key stop for families engaged in the California Gold rush. The site administrator offered a warm welcome and useful introduction of parts to see and experience.

This fort was established to protect two of the five civilized tribes from the plains Indians. At one point part of the fort burned down. A lot of the fort is only foundations. But it has a cemetery that dates back to before statehood and is well keep. You can walk or drive around the fort.

Wonderful place!. Site manager was really informative and nice and the history is awesome. Plus the grounds are nicely maintained. Looking forward to going back.

Took my great grandson there and he loved it he was looking at it all then we walked all over the grounds and he wants to come back

The old fort was much larger than expected. A number a restored buildings and many foundations of the old structures on the site. Very well kept grounds and impressive civil war cemetery. Small but informative museam and very friendly staff. Includes a large number of artifacts found on the site.

We were staying at Choctaw Casino and wanted to see Durant, Oklahoma. (First time here) We read on Trip Advisor reviews that this was one place to visit and we wanted to get away from spending so much $$. SO TRUE! If you are into history, it was a great visit. I think you'll enjoy as much as we did. Liked: cemetery, barracks, captain's quarters.

This is a great place for family outings if you are in the area. During October they have the haunted goat telling stories and that is a great thing to do. Free and fun.

I grew up near this fort and have always been intrigued by it. It is fun to visit and brings frontier living to life.

Hidden gem. I imagine most folks miss this if they come to Durant to gamble. We came as a travel stopover. Just an immaculately kept historical site you won’t want to miss. Great place to let kids run around and explore. So many interesting ruins. This one was especially picturesque. Reminded me of Scotland. You can walk around or drive up to each site. About twenty minutes out of town. A nice change from all the commercialism.

This is a place I visited many times as a child. I didn't realize the significance of it until I became an adult. I visited during a Halloween event where they tell ghost stories. I really enjoyed it and although I am not a spooked type of person, there was an eeriness to the place.
Visit during the heritage days, as the volunteers are in full dress. A lot of things to do for the kids. Schools take field trips during this week and it's about the best time to go...unless you really like the ghost stories. Not sure if they still tell them or not.

Now open Tues-Sat starting at 0900, but printed flyers included Monday, and there was someone there who most graciously provided a good overview of the Fort, The Allotment System, and some Chickasaw history. The grounds were fresh and green after recent rains. We saw the Government Spring, civil war cemetary, 2 historic log cabins transported to this site, traces of an old cobblestone road, remnants of Fort buildings, some only footers, other multi-story (barracks). Ruts of a wagon trail to the CA gold fields cross the fort.

We went with the grandkids for a picnic and to spend some quality time with them. We had such a wonderful day exploring and relaxing. They have some old buildings that are perfect for Photos.

We've been to several 1800s forts, and this one is right near the top of the list. The grounds are well maintained, and the woman in the museum was very helpful and friendly. The vines on the main barrack ruins weren't green when we went in mid-March, but the building itself was still really cool! There are several buildings and ruins, some reconstructed and some not.
We only had an hour, but we could have easily stayed two, and we might go back in another season just to see it with the trees green.

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.

It's been a while since I have been to Fort Washita. Most recently, I came to learn that the main barracks house recently burned and is no longer available for touring. When I was a kid in grade school, we took field trips to the fort for fun, games and learning. It has always been on my "to do" list to run my metal detector over the grounds of the fort. All in all, it's a good half day site seeing adventure for family and friends.

We have visited Ft. Washita several times for different occasions. (The last time was not last year but wouldn’t let me pick earlier year)
The ghost tours in October are great! The Rendezvous is always fantastic with the BEST homemade Kettle Corn ever!!!!! This historic site is just a beautiful place to visit no matter what time of the year!!!!! Well kept grounds! Friendly volunteers who take much pride in Ft. Washita 😍

Catch a reenactment! We went and had a great day. It was a WW2 reenactment day. The grounds are beautiful, the history incredible. It is haunted! They do fall ghost tours.