It is once again time for Fort Gibson Historic Site's annual Education Day! This year we are teaming up with the town of Fort Gibson to bring back Old Fort Days. Keep reading for details and how your class can join in.
On 9 May 2025 from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., Fort Gibson Historic Site will host our annual Education Day. The site will be closed to the general public/non school groups. Living Historians will set up a variety of stations across the grounds depicting various aspects of life in the 1800s. Registration times are 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m, 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 1:00 p.m.
Each school group is registered for a total of 2 hours with about 10 to 15 minutes per station. Educational stations will run the length of the 80-acre site from the wooden palisade at Ash Street to the top of Garrison Hill. Visitors to our Education Day can expect to do a lot of walking and will use the full 2 hours to see everything Fort Gibson Historic Site has to offer. We have benches and some seating in the main station areas and there is a walking path connecting the palisade to the hospital. Please be aware of the Oklahoma weather, which can be fickle on occasion, and dress accordingly.
Advanced registration is required for this event and runs from 21 January through 19 April 2025. To register your class, send an email with your class details and preferred time to
Zm9ydGdpYnNvbiB8IGhpc3RvcnkgISBvayAhIGdvdg==. For faster service please include 'Ed Day Registration' in the subject line. When your class is registered, you will receive a confirmation email with map of the site and routes to get here, parking instructions, and other information each class needs to know before arriving. To avoid scheduling conflicts and ensure each registrant has all the necessary details, we cannot take registrations by phone.
We hope to provide you with the information to make this a fantastic educational experience but if we have forgotten something or if you have any questions our registration packets do not answer, please do not hesitate to email us and we will respond as soon as we are able.
Education Day Stations
The stations one can expect to see are listed below with updates as we confirm new groups.
19th Century Soldiers- A soldier started his day at 6:00am which involved drill, marching, more drilling and camp policing before weapons inspection followed by more drilling. Visitors to this station can learn the details of drill, training, weaponry, and other activities 19th century soldiers were expected to excel at.
Keelboat- This method of getting goods from point A to B was developed in the late 18th century. Having a flatter bottom, keelboats were capable of navigating river travel without getting stuck in the shallower waters of this region and could be powered by sail, rowing, or polling. A boatman will be on hand to discuss communication methods such as use of a signal cannon, the different ways the keelboat was powered, and what types of supplies it would have brought to the post.
Post Garden- Many posts maintained a garden to help soldiers supplement their rations. The fort garden is a third scale replica planted with herbs and veggies that were available to the people in the 19th century.
1st Kansas Colored- The First Kansas Colored Infantry was established at Fort Scott Kansas on January 13, 1863. Kansas was the first Union state to recruit, train and put Black soldiers into service. The First Kansas was stationed here at Fort Gibson and saw service at the battle of Honey Springs. The First Kansas volunteers will be teaching about soldiers’ equipment, past times (games), and the history of the unit.
Civil War armory- After the Union army occupied Fort Gibson, they were responsible for maintaining their own muskets and firearms, as well as assessing captured Confederate weapons. Visitors to this station will learn about commonly issued and unusual firearms issued to the Union Indian Brigade and 1st Kansas Colored, as well as the firearms used by the Confederates.
Mess Hall- Soldiers maintained many duties not limited to marching and conducting contact missions on the plains. They were also responsible for taking their turn in the maintenance of daily life on the post, including keeping everyone fed. The mess hall is where soldiers and post staff took their meals and those on Kitchen duty worked to prepare foods. Visitors to this station can chat with the post cooks as they use 19th century equipment, methods and recipes to prepare food for the folks serving on post.
Pre-Civil War Military Women- A lot of work was expected of 19th century post staff and the first women employed by the United States military were no exception. Visitors to this station can expect to see methods of maintaining clothing on a frontier post as well as discussions of what women on a military pay roll were entitled to, and just why laundresses were in such high demand.
Civil War Military Women- Visitors to this station can expect to learn the impact of women in the field of military medical hygiene who were instrumental in development of the Sanitation Commission.
Sutler Store- The Fort Gibson sutlery was owned and operated by JJ Nicks and his wife Sally. Upon the death of Nicks, Sally became what we believe is the first woman with a military contract to run a sutlery. At this station, visitors will learn how business was conducted between the soldiers and local civilian population, the supplies sutlers provided, local trade with civilians and soldiers, and how Fort Gibson received goods from St. Louis and New Orleans by keelboat and steamship.
Bake house- Bread was an important staple for soldiers on any post. The oven in this bakehouse was in constant production to provide the garrison with rations of bread and hardtack. Here visitors will learn the process of bread preparation and the complicated operations of an 1860s bake oven.
1870s Hospital Visitor Center- Visitors to the 1870s Hospital can tour exhibits and displays of what was a 19th century state-of-the-art medical facility. Learn about the evolution of medicine as well as health care on the site and don’t forget to shop our Fort Gibson Historic Site gift shop where we offer a wide array of book, toys, 19th century replica items, 19th century style sweets, and more!
Stay tuned to this page for updates as new stations and information is added.
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