September 20, 2011 The Dam Site and Fort Gibson

We woke to a beautiful, sunshiny morning so out the door we went.

Pictures of the dam:

The Grand Neosho River and the campground on the right:

The birds around the dam:

 

 

 

Our Bounder in the trees:

Fort Gibson Lake:

 

 

And it did!   The horn would blow in the afternoons and out would come the water.   Apparently there is a generating plant on the dam that operates for a few hours a day.

And across the dam we found:

 

 

 

A few miles from the Dam Site is Fort Gibson Historical Park.

Some history from the internet:

“Fort Gibson guarded the American frontier in Indian Territory from 1824 until 1890. The fort at its inception lay farther west than any other military post in the United States of America and formed part of the north–south chain of forts intended to maintain peace on the frontier of the American West and to protect the southwestern border of the Louisiana Purchase.”

Fort Gibson

Established in 1824, Fort Gibson served as a starting point for several military expeditions that explored the west and sought peace between the tribes in the region. It was occupied through most of the Indian Removal period then abandoned in 1857. The post was reactivated during the Civil War. The army stayed through the Reconstruction and Indian Wars periods, combating the problem of outlaws and squatters. In 1890, the army abandoned Fort Gibson for the last time.

Because no battles or massacres occurred at or near the post, Fort Gibson never earned the reputation some frontier forts achieved, but for over half a century it accomplished its mission of maintaining the peace. At the height of Indian removal, it had the largest garrison in the nation, and many notable Americans served there or passed through, including Stephen Watts Kearny, Robert E. Lee, Henry Leavenworth, Jefferson Davis, and Zachary Taylor. Fort Gibson Historic District is listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NR 66000631) and has been designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service.

Here is more information and history:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Gibson

http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/F/FO033.html

http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/okfortgibson.html

The fort and many of the surrounding buildings have been reconstructed and there are also many archeological digs in various area.  We were able to walk thru most of the buildings – very interesting:

The Commissary (now the Visitor Center):

 

The Barracks – this was not open but we were told it was last used for teacher’s conferences:

The original oven in the bakery that is still workable:

The Kitchen and Mess Hall:

 

The fort and stockade:

The Blockhouse – notice the holes for the guns:

  

The boys goofing off:

Many of the rooms in the fort were open to view.  The Historical Society has done a wonderful job in showing what the fort would have been like when in use:

Sleeping Quarters – there would have been 4 men that slept here – two up and two down – can you imagine?:

Bachelor Lieutenant’s Quarters:

Married Enlisted Quarters – the children would also live in this room:

 

Officer’s Mess:

Officer’s Lounge:

A very interesting place to visit.  In the summer they do a lot of living history programs.   We highly recommend visiting if you are in this area.

Back at the campground, I took Bella for a walk – her first time.  But I had a little problem – I wasn’t holding the leash tight enough, something spooked her, and off she went.  I told Dusty to stay (which he did – such a good cat ) and finally caught her.  Will have to do something different tomorrow.

And we ended the evening with a wonderful campfire.  I have a feeling this may be our last campfire for a while – we are heading into burn ban country.

Until tomorrow.