National Register of Historic Places listings in Comanche County, Oklahoma facts for kids
Welcome to Comanche County, Oklahoma! This page is all about special places in the county that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Think of the National Register as a very important list of buildings, sites, and objects that are super old and important to American history. When a place is on this list, it means it's worth protecting and remembering for future generations.
In Comanche County, there are 36 amazing places on this list. One of them is even a National Historic Landmark, which is an even more special title for places that are important to the whole country! Let's explore some of these cool historic spots.
Contents
- Historic Places in Comanche County
- Arrastra Site
- Balloon Hanger at Henry Post Army Airfield
- Mattie Beal House
- Blockhouse on Signal Mountain
- Boulder Cabin
- Building 309, Fort Sill Indian School
- Carnegie Library (Lawton)
- Central Fire Station (Lawton)
- Chiefs Knoll, Fort Sill Post Cemetery
- Comanche Indian Mission Cemetery
- Douglass School (Lawton)
- Federal Building and US Courthouse (Lawton)
- Ferguson House (Cache)
- First Christian Church (Lawton)
- First Presbyterian Church of Lawton
- Fort Sill
- General Officers Quarters
- Indian Cemeteries
- Ingram House (Cache)
- Lawton High School (Old Building)
- Lawton National Guard Armory
- Mahoney-Clark House
- Medicine Bluffs
- Medicine Park Hotel and Annex
- Meers Mining Camp
- Methodist Episcopal Church, South (Lawton)
- Old Tower Two
- Quanah Parker Star House
- Penateka (Elgin)
- Henry Post Air Field
- Images for kids
Historic Places in Comanche County
Arrastra Site
The Arrastra Site is a unique historical spot near Cache. An arrastra is an old machine used in the 1800s to crush rocks, usually to find gold or other valuable minerals. This one is a Spanish-style arrastra, showing us a bit about how people worked and lived in this area a long time ago.
Balloon Hanger at Henry Post Army Airfield
At Fort Sill, you can find the old Balloon Hanger. This building was used for storing and working on large balloons, which were important for military observation in the early days of flight. It's a cool reminder of how aviation technology has changed over time.
Mattie Beal House
The Mattie Beal House in Lawton is a beautiful historic home. Mattie Beal was a famous woman in Lawton's history because she won a valuable piece of land in a lottery back in 1901. Her house is a great example of the fancy homes built during that time.
Blockhouse on Signal Mountain
High up on Signal Mountain at Fort Sill, there's an old blockhouse. A blockhouse is a small, strong fort, often made of logs, used for defense. This one offers a glimpse into the military history of Fort Sill and how they protected the area.
Boulder Cabin
Located in the beautiful Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge near Cache, the Boulder Cabin is a rustic and historic building. It's built with large boulders, blending in with the natural landscape. It shows us how early settlers or visitors lived in this rugged area.
Building 309, Fort Sill Indian School
On the eastern edge of Lawton, you'll find Building 309, which was part of the Fort Sill Indian School. This school played a role in the education of Native American children. The building stands as a reminder of this important part of local history.
Carnegie Library (Lawton)
The Carnegie Library in Lawton is a classic example of a library built with money from Andrew Carnegie, a famous businessman who funded many libraries across the United States. It's a beautiful building that served as a center for learning and reading for many years.
Central Fire Station (Lawton)
The Central Fire Station in Lawton is a historic building that still serves its original purpose! It's where the Lawton Fire Department operates from, protecting the city. It's cool to see a historic building still being used every day.
Chiefs Knoll, Fort Sill Post Cemetery
Chiefs Knoll is a very important and respectful place at Fort Sill. It's the final resting place for several famous Native American chiefs who were part of the Red River War. This includes leaders like Quanah Parker, Satanta, Satank, and Kicking Bird. It's a place to remember their history and legacy.
Comanche Indian Mission Cemetery
Also at Fort Sill, the Comanche Indian Mission Cemetery is a significant burial ground. It's a place where members of the Comanche Nation were laid to rest, showing the deep connection between the Comanche people and this land.
Douglass School (Lawton)
Douglass School in Lawton was an important school that served the community for many years. Although it closed as a regular school in 2011, the building is still used by the school district for training and development. It represents a key part of Lawton's educational history.
Federal Building and US Courthouse (Lawton)
The Federal Building and US Courthouse in Lawton is an important government building. It's where federal court cases are heard and where many government offices are located. Its architecture reflects the style of important public buildings from its time.
Ferguson House (Cache)
The Ferguson House is another historic residence located within the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge near Cache. It's a reminder of the people who lived in this area before it became a wildlife refuge. Even though it's now vacant, it tells a story of early life there.
First Christian Church (Lawton)
The First Christian Church in Lawton is a beautiful and historic church building. Churches often serve as important community centers and landmarks, and this one is a great example of the architectural styles popular when it was built.
First Presbyterian Church of Lawton
Another historic church in Lawton is the First Presbyterian Church. Like other old churches, it's not just a place of worship but also a part of the city's history and development. Its design tells us about the past.
Fort Sill
Fort Sill is a very important place, so important that it's a National Historic Landmark! It's a United States Army post that has been active since 1869. It played a huge role in the history of the American West, including interactions with Native American tribes and military training. It's still a major training center today.
General Officers Quarters
At Fort Sill, the General Officers Quarters are historic homes where high-ranking military officers lived. These buildings show the living conditions and architectural styles for important figures at the fort in earlier times.
Indian Cemeteries
Within the Fort Sill Military Reservation, there are several Indian Cemeteries. These are sacred places, including the Beef Creek Apache Cemetery, which is the final resting place of the famous Apache warrior, Geronimo. These cemeteries are important for remembering the history and culture of Native American tribes.
Ingram House (Cache)
The Ingram House is another historic home located northeast of Cache. Like other old houses in the area, it offers a look into the past lives of the people who settled and lived in Comanche County.
Lawton High School (Old Building)
The old Lawton High School building is a historic landmark in the city. While Lawton High School is no longer at this location, the building is still important as it now serves as the city hall. It's cool how old buildings can get new lives!
Lawton National Guard Armory
The Lawton National Guard Armory is a historic building that served as a training and storage facility for the National Guard. Armories are important for local defense and community events, and this one has a long history in Lawton.
Mahoney-Clark House
The Mahoney-Clark House in Lawton is another historic residence. Old houses like this one often have unique architectural details and tell stories about the families who lived there and the growth of the city.
Medicine Bluffs
Medicine Bluffs, located at Fort Sill, are tall cliffs near Medicine Bluff Creek. These bluffs are very important in Native American legends and history. One famous story says that the Apache warrior Geronimo made an impossible jump from these bluffs, which is why people sometimes shout "Geronimo!" before a big jump.
Medicine Park Hotel and Annex
The Medicine Park Hotel and Annex is a historic building in the unique town of Medicine Park. This hotel was a popular spot for visitors to the area, especially those enjoying the nearby Wichita Mountains. It even includes the historic Old Plantation restaurant.
Meers Mining Camp
The Meers Mining Camp, northwest of Lawton, was once a bustling mining town. Today, it's mostly a rural neighborhood, but its history as a place where people searched for minerals is still remembered. The Meers Store & Restaurant is still open and is famous for its delicious hamburgers!
Methodist Episcopal Church, South (Lawton)
The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in Lawton is another historic church building. Its architecture and long history make it a significant part of Lawton's religious and community story.
Old Tower Two
Old Tower Two at Fort Sill was an observation tower used by soldiers from 1911 to 1918. Field Artillerymen used it to watch and direct artillery fire during training. It's a piece of military history showing how training was done over a hundred years ago.
Quanah Parker Star House
The Quanah Parker Star House is the former home of Quanah Parker, a very important Comanche Chief. The house is famous for the painted stars on its roof. It has been moved from its original spot and is now a historic site near Cache, offering a look into the life of this influential leader.
Penateka (Elgin)
Penateka is a historic site located west of Elgin. This name refers to a band of the Comanche people, and the site is important for understanding their history and presence in this area.
Henry Post Air Field
Henry Post Air Field, located north of Lawton on Fort Sill, is a historic airfield. It has been used for military aviation for many years, playing a role in the development of air power and military training.
Images for kids
-
Buffalo Lodge.jpg
Buffalo Lodge, northwest of Cache.