On Saturday, April 18, from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., the Fort Gibson Historic Site staff will once again bring the bake house back to life, and visitors to the site will reap the benefits! This annual fundraiser offers visitors to the site a chance to taste the past through freshly baked bread.

Bread is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The first loaves will start coming out around 12:30 p.m., with the last batches around 3:30 p.m. As always, the bake house will be closed to the public until the last of the bread is finished, to ensure the right baking temperature.

Bread will be available in the 1870s Hospital and Visitor Center located at 803 N Garrison Ave.

Fort Gibson staff begin oven prep three days before baking the bread to allow the oven to slowly reach the right temperature. During this prep time, we monitor the fires around the clock to ensure a gradual temperature increase and prevent any cracking to our 1860s oven. On the day of baking, we prep the bread in the troughs, shape it, and set it on top of the oven to rise. Then into the oven they go, where they bake to perfection!

Once the finished loaves have cooled, we will take them to the Hospital visitor center, where they will be available for donations. There is a limit of 2 loaves per adult, to ensure as many visitors as possible have the opportunity to enjoy the bread. This is a slow, labor-intensive process, and we thank everyone for their patience as we carry on this Fort Gibson tradition, providing a delicious glimpse into the 19th century year after year.