The Fort Towson Historic Site visitor center offers engaging exhibits that delve into the fort’s rich history from its construction in 1824 and its role in the Mexican-American War and the Civil War, to the steamboats that ferried people and supplies through the region. Notable figures like Sam Houston and Davy Crockett passed through its gates, and it later served as a Confederate headquarters where General Stand Watie surrendered, the last Confederate general to do so.

Visitors will hear the story of nearby Doaksville, first established as a trading post that later became a thriving commercial center and capital of the Choctaw Nation. Visitors can explore engaging exhibits, a reconstructed sutler store, teamster’s cabin, and walking trails through historic ruins. Living history events bring the past to life, including an 1840s Encampment, Education Day, and Candlelight Tours. Fort Towson is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and managed by the Oklahoma Historical Society.