Are you going to Fort Sill? If you are, get ready for clear skies and the sound of gunfire all the time. It will be hot in the summer and cold in the winter, which you probably already know. But you might not know that this post in southern Oklahoma was built during the Indian Wars. That means it’s now a National Landmark, and everywhere you look there’s history. For people who are stationed here, there are many historical and outdoor things to do. A lot of them are fun for the whole family.
The real name of Fort Sill is the Fort Sill Fires Centre of Excellence (FCoF). Its job is to train soliders who work with weapons well. Every day and night, they learn how to put “steel on target.” One of the best places in the Army to train is Fort Sill, which has three ways to train and get ready. It is the largest field artillery complex in the free world and is home to the Field Artillery School, which trains soldiers and marines in field artillery all over the world, and the Field Artillery Training Centre, which teaches basic combat, one-station unit training, and advanced individual training.
Here are eight amazing things you can do at Fort Sill.
Things to do at Fort Sill
It was in the 1930s that Rucker Park was used to train the Army Equestrian Team. Now it’s a quiet, open area right on post. With its trees and old stone buildings that were once used to train horses, it’s a lovely place to have a lunch and play games outside with family and friends.
Field Artillery Park has a collection of artillery that can be seen outside. Both kids and adults will find it amazing. The show has more than 20 pieces of weapons and a lot of other Army gear for you to look at. A lot of them are painted in bright colours and have information about their past on them. The Artillery Museum at Fort Sill is right next to the park and is also worth seeing.
Nature, nature, and more nature
This huge, hilly area is home to many animals, such as American bison, Rocky Mountain elk, longhorn cattle, white-tailed deer, and more. Soon, you’ll be so far away from Fort Sill that you won’t even be able to hear the gun range. People who love the outdoors will have a great time exploring the area, whether they go climbing, watch birds, or look for different kinds of wildlife.
A very beautiful place close to Fort Sill is Medicine Bluff. It used to be a holy spot for Plains Indians, where they held practises to heal themselves. He was an Apache leader and medicine man in the late 1800s, and troops were chasing him. The story goes that he rode off a bluff on his horse. He screamed “Geronimooooo!” as he fell to his death. His grave is in Fort Sill, where you can see it.
Want a way to unwind while you live in Fort Sill? This beautiful park and recreation area has a playground for kids that is partly covered, lots of picnic places, and trails that are good for dogs. There is also a no-wake pool where you can swim, kayak, and do other water sports. If you want to spend a few days in the woods without anyone else around, you can even sleep here.
The Holy City
There is an amazing 66-acre area called “The Holy City” that is tucked into the Wichita Mountains. That short drive from Fort Sill makes you feel like you’ve gone back in time. As you walk through this impressive stone city, you can learn about the past of the Bible. For pictures, don’t forget your camera. There are lots of places to take them.
Aquarium at Medicine Park
There are areas inside and outside of Medicine Park Aquarium where you can see a wide range of animals and fish. Inside, there are tanks with mostly freshwater fish in them. There are snakes, turtles, sea otters, alligators, and more outside of you to see. They even have a mountain cat and a wolf in their outdoor area. All military families can get in for less money.
Old West Museum of the Great Plains
To learn more about the history and culture of the Great Plains, go to the Museum of the Great Plains, which is farther away from Fort Sill. There are hands-on parts of the museum that will keep the kids busy. In the outside area, there is an old fort, a train, and farm tools. Everyone in a military family can get in for less money.
