Press Release
May 5, 2026
Contact: David C. Reed
Fort Towson Historic Site, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 580-873-2634
[email protected]
okhistory.org/forttowson
Fort Towson Historic Site Offering Rare Nighttime Tour of Grounds on May 22
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.
Fort Towson Historic Site is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications, the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit okhistory.org.
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Editor’s Note: Photos of the Fort Towson Historic Site are available upon request.
