The six main military installations in the Red River Valley - three
in Oklahoma, and three in Texas - show above any other
cultural feature how closely history is linked between the two
states. Spanning three wars - the Mexican-American, Civil, and
Indian Wars - the forts not only record the progress of the
Western frontier, but also what has been lost in the American
quest for Manifest Destiny.

Below is a map of the Red River Valley and the locations of the
six forts, numbered in order of their establishment. Click on the
fort's names to learn about each one.
Red River
Fort Tour


Fort 1 - Fort Towson, between Idabel and
Hugo Oklahoma. Established 1824.

Fort 2 - Fort Washita, between Durant and
Tishomingo, Oklahoma. Established 1847.

Fort 3 - Fort Belknap, between Graham and
Throckmorton, Texas. Established 1851.

Fort 4 - Fort Griffin. Between Throckmorton
and Albany, Texas. Established 1867.

Fort 5 - Fort Richardson. Between Jacksboro
and Graham, Texas. Established 1868.

Fort 6 - Fort Sill. Active fort in Lawton,
Oklahoma. Established 1869.