---

Survey of Historic Sites and Buildings

	FORT TOWSON SITE Oklahoma
Choctaw County, on U.S. 70, about 1 mile northeast of the town of Fort Towson. Fort Towson Historic Site

In 1824 the U.S. Army built Fort Towson in the southeastern part of Indian country as a sister post to Fort Gibson, lying to the north. The post was built to aid Indians emigrating from the Southeast. In 1829 the Army abandoned it, but 1-1/2 years later rebuilt it to protect the Choctaws emigrating from Mississippi. Throughout the 1830's it was one of a line of forts that guarded the frontier. It was active during the Mexican War, but, as the frontier moved westward, it was no longer needed. In 1854 the Army abandoned it. Except for brief occupations by Confederate and Union forces during the Civil War, it was no longer used. Only the ruins of several stone buildings remain today.