Fort Towson

Historical marker location:

Fort Towson, Oklahoma

( Marker can be reached from U.S. 70 west of State Route 209, on the right when traveling east.)

Marker installed: 1995

Colonel Matthew Arbuckle ordered the construction of the fort in May 1824 to guard the US boundary with Mexico. After Indian removals to the area in the 1830s, the fort served as a permanent army post until 1854. During the Civil War, the fort was occupied by Confederate forces. Brigadier General Stand Watie surrendered his Confederate troops here in June 1865, the last Confederate general to lay down his arms. Fort Towson was abandoned after the Civil War.