As we get closer to the start of winter, Fort Gibson Historic Site staff get super excited about our annual Candlelight tour! We are happy to show folks around the site during regular business hours, but being able to share the magic of this historic gem after hours is sublime! During our candlelight tours, guests are led through scenes of 19th century life in the palisade and surrounding grounds with only the light of our lanterns to show the way.
Tours begin with a short site history chat in our staging room from which tour guides will pick up their groups. After viewing several skits in the palisade, mess hall and dog trot, guests are invited to enjoy cookies and hot cider in our sutler store dog trot. For those of you who want to inquire your status on the naughty or nice list or if you just want to make sure he knows your gift wishes, Santa will be available in the sutler's living quarters. The tour ends with a hayride back to the parking area. Please see below for ticket information and event details.
Tour times begin at 6:00 p.m. and the last tour leaves at 8:00 p.m. Each tour has room for 10 participants. Please be aware this event is conducted by candlelight and whatever moonlight we may have. This will be a low light event and tour groups will walk over sometimes uneven ground. Tours last an average of one hour and there are few seating areas. We do not recommend this event for infants and parents are asked to ensure their children maintain tour etiquette for the enjoyment of your group. We also ask that guests refrain from taking flash photography in order to preserve the night vision of our guides, volunteers, and for the safety of the tour groups.
This event requires tickets to be purchased in advance. Tickets must be shown at the registration tent as proof of purchase. Tickets are non-refundable but may be transferred to another person for the same date and time. Original purchaser must give a copy of the receipt to the person they are transferring to for proof of purchase. Sales begin 18 October 2025. Tickets can be purchased during regular business hours by phone at 918-478-4088 or in person at the 1870s Hospital Visitor Center located at 803 N Garrison Ave, Fort Gibson OK. If purchasing by phone, provide a phone number or email address for staff to send a copy of your ticket. It will need to be shown at the registration desk. We stop selling tickets at 4:30 p.m. on 13 December and begin calling folks on the waiting list.
Parking for the event will be in the palisade lot located at the corner of Ash and Lee street between the railroad tracks and the entrance of the Palisade. The entrance will be lit by lantern. We ask guests to arrive 5 to 10 minutes prior to their tour and tours leave promptly on time. Site staff cannot promise there will be space in other tours for those who arrive past their tour time.
Also check out other Nonprofit events in Fort Gibson.
