“Traveling by Keelboat” living history program

On Friday, September 16, and Saturday, September 17, join the staff and volunteers at Fort Gibson Historic Site as they demonstrate the operations of a keelboat during a special riverside living history program. The tours to the riverside will run at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. on both days.

These riverside demonstrations will show visitors the skills needed to operate a keelboat, which was the way goods and supplies were originally delivered to Fort Gibson. Guests are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes for a short hike to the riverside to meet historians who will explain the mechanical advantages of pulley systems in water travel and transport. Participants will learn how the speed of keelboats was measured before the advent of the speedometer through interactive presentations by the staff and volunteers.

While waiting for the riverside tours, guests can tour Fort Gibson Historic Site as staff and volunteers conduct programs on the palisade grounds. The Commissary, Bakehouse, Magazine, and Barracks, as well as the many furnished rooms located within the palisade walls, will be open for viewing. For more details or to learn how to purchase tickets to the keelboat demonstrations, visit the events section of the Fort Gibson Historic Site Facebook page at facebook.com/fortgibsonhistoricsite or call 918-478-4088.

When Fort Gibson was established in 1824, it was the westernmost military outpost of its day. With 300–500 hundred troops stationed there, the fort was a supply point and bustling center for the trade activity of settlers, fur traders, and Indian Territory nations due to its location along the old Texas Road and the steamboat traffic that passed nearby on the Arkansas River.

Fort Gibson Historic Site, a National Historic Landmark, is located at 907 N. Garrison Ave. in Fort Gibson.

Tickets are now on sale for these September Keelboat tours! This program runs Friday September 16 and Saturday September 17, but tickets must be purchased in advance. Those can be purchased by phone or in the Commissary gift shop during regular business hours. For more details on the event, check out the Fort Gibson keelboat page by clicking here .