Fort Supply (Oklahoma) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Supply |
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| Indian Territory / Woodward County, Oklahoma, USA (near Fort Supply, Oklahoma) |
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Camp Supply Stockade, Harper's Weekly, February 1869.
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| Type | Fort |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | United States |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1868 |
| In use | 1868–1895 |
| Materials | Logs & stone |
| Battles/wars | Indian Wars on the Southern Plains |
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Fort Supply Historic District
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 Location in Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| Location | Western State Hospital grounds, Fort Supply, Oklahoma |
| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | 1893 |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000675 |
| Added to NRHP | June 21, 1971 |
Fort Supply was an important United States Army post. It was first called Camp Supply. Soldiers built it on November 18, 1868. Its main job was to protect the southern Plains Indians territory. The fort was located in what is now Oklahoma, near the town of Fort Supply, Oklahoma. It was part of an area known as the Cherokee Outlet.
Contents
History of Fort Supply
Why Was Fort Supply Built?
Fort Supply started as "Camp of Supply" in November 1868. It helped General Philip Sheridan during his winter campaign. This campaign was against some Southern Plains Indians tribes. From this camp, George Armstrong Custer led his soldiers. They went south to the Washita River. There, they attacked the village of Cheyenne chief Black Kettle. This event is known as the Battle of the Washita.
Protecting Reservations and Changing Names
After the battle, Camp Supply had a new role. It helped protect the Cheyenne and Arapaho reservations. These reservations were managed by the Darlington Agency. The fort kept white settlers from entering these lands. In 1878, the camp's name changed to Fort Supply. This happened after its role in the Red River War (1874-1875).
The Fort's Future and Closing
By 1880, the Indian Wars in the Southern Plains were almost over. The fort was getting old and needed repairs. Army leaders thought about closing it down. But Philip Sheridan, who was then a top general, disagreed. He worked to create the Fort Supply Military Reservation. This made the fort and its surrounding land permanent. The reservation covered about 36 square miles.
Fort Supply officially closed in September 1894. This was after the Cherokee Outlet opened for new settlements. One of the last jobs for troops from Fort Supply was to stop trouble. This was during the Enid-Pond Creek Railroad War in the summer of 1894. People from two towns were damaging trains and tracks. Soldiers from Fort Reno and U.S. Marshals could not stop it. On February 26, 1895, the last soldiers left. They gave control of the fort to the Department of the Interior.
What Happened to the Fort Later?
In 1908, Oklahoma's first hospital for mental health was built at the old fort. Today, it is called the Western State Psychiatric Center. In 1988, the state decided to protect the remaining fort buildings. They became the Fort Supply Historic District. Soon after, the William S. Key Correctional Center also opened there. The Fort Supply Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
Fort Supply Historic Site: What Can You See?
The Oklahoma Historical Society now runs a visitor center at the site. They are working to restore five of the original buildings. The visitor center has displays about Fort Supply's history. It also shows the history of northwest Oklahoma.
Restored Buildings and Exhibits
- The 1874 Ordnance Sergeant's Quarters
- The 1882 Civilian Employee Quarters
These are log buildings made in a "picket" style.
- The 1878 Commanding Officer's Quarters
- The 1882 Officers' Quarters (a duplex, meaning two homes in one building)
These are frame-style buildings.
- The 1892 Guard House
This building is made of brick. It has displays of old items and photos.
Replicas and Other Features
The site also has copies of old structures. You can see a replica of the 1869 stockade. This was a fence made of tall logs. There is also an army supply wagon. You can see a mountain howitzer, which is a type of small cannon. Finally, there is a replica of a Cheyenne tipi.
