Press Release
October 24, 2024
Contact: Jennifer Frazee
Fort Gibson Historic Site, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 918-478-4088
fortgibson@history.ok.gov
www.okhistory.org/fortgibson
Hospital Built in 1870s to Reopen at Fort Gibson Historic Site in November
FORT GIBSON, Okla. — After years of work and perseverance, renovations on the 1870s hospital at Fort Gibson Historic Site are finally finished. There will be a celebration to mark this milestone on Saturday, November 2, at 11 a.m. The public is invited to see the new exhibits and learn more about the renovation process.
The hospital was built in the 1870s at a cost of $12,000 to provide much-needed medical care to citizens on the post. The U.S. Army used it as a weather station until the U.S. Signal Service took over in 1890, making it one of Oklahoma’s first weather stations. The Oklahoma Historical Society acquired the property in the early 1980s after it had been used as a private residence for more than 70 years.
The first phase of rehabilitation was completed in 2017. It addressed problems with the building’s structural integrity and gave it a much-needed new roof. Zenith Construction of Tahlequah was awarded the construction contract. Zenith Construction previously worked with the OHS on the construction of the Visitor Center at Honey Springs Battlefield in Checotah.
The renovated hospital will feature orientation areas, a gift shop, gallery spaces, site maps and a replica hospital ward.
Funds for the project were provided through the maintenance of state buildings revolving fund managed by the Long-Range Capital Planning Commission and OHS maintenance funds.
For more information, please call 918-478-4088. The Fort Gibson Historic Site is located at 907 N. Garrison Ave. in Fort Gibson, and the hospital is located at 803 N. Garrison Ave.
The Fort Gibson Historic Site is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.
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Editor’s Note: Photos of the Fort Gibson Historic Site are available upon request.
