Fort Wayne

Historical marker location:

Watts, Oklahoma

( Marker is at the intersection of U.S. 59 and Main Street, on the right when traveling south on U.S. 59.)

Marker installed: 1995

Established in 1839, the army fort was named in honor of General "Mad" Anthony Wayne. The fort was abandoned in May 1842. During the Civil War, in July 1861, Colonel Stand Watie used the fort as a Confederate post and organized the Cherokee Mounted Rifles. The fort was captured by Union forces in the Battle of Fort Wayne on October 22, 1862.

Oklahoma was the site of the largest land run in U.S. history. On April 22, 1889, thousands of people rushed into the unassigned lands of the Oklahoma Territory in search of free land. The land run led to the creation of several new towns and cities, including Oklahoma City.