Ft Reno Visitor Center USDA — Attraction in El Reno

Old Fort Reno or or what is left of it, is a reasonably well-preserved site with most of the original buildings that surrounded the parade grounds. The entrance is on historic US highway 66 west of El Reno, Oklahoma. There is the visitor center and museum for the old fort and remount post, the US Cavalry museum, and the offices of the USDA grasslands research program that now occupies the land. To the west is the post cemetery that includes a separate section where the bodies of POWs that died while in custody in camps all over Oklahoma and parts of Texas and Kansas are laid to rest. To the east was the location of the POW camp facilities no longer present, and the distinctive water tower base is still standing. To the southeast is the modern Fort Reno federal penitentiary.

The museum staff have always been friendly and helpful and are great stewards of the history of Fort Reno as a cavalry post, a remount post where "Blackjack," the riderless horse that was famous for being part of JFK's funeral procession was trained. They have not just military history, but include local history of the area and the Oklahoma Territories, as well as Native American history in the region both good and bad.

The visitor center and museum does have a $6 fee when I visited June of 2022. Donations for site preservation and restoration are accepted as well. There are 3 floors and each room is set up to represent some aspect of post life during a particular time frame. The upper floors are only accessible by stairs, so only the first floor office, gift shop and parlor exhibit area are wheelchair accessible.

Hours are limited, so call ahead. There are seasonal events including re-enactor events, military observances, and "spirit tours" that include the oldest buildings and the cemetery.

If you are just passing through and happen to be on this section of old Rt. 66, "the mother road," it's worth a visit. If you live in central or western Oklahoma you should make a point to visit as part of learning the history of the land in...

Great historical site.Edit:(They had great service the second time I went for a visit.The lady inside the visitor’s center was very informative and amazing.The reason they were closed the day I came the first time was because they were fundraising for money to keep this amazing historical site open after they lost their gov. funding.was closed.The lady working inside the Calvary museum was new,and overcharged is for $20 instead of $11(We had two adults and one senior .The cemetery was very interesting and surprisingly,not locked.In the picture below there is a chair inside the museum that was used in the movie “Dances...

A very neat and historical place to visit. Love to walk around looking at the pictures of the old fort and imagining where things used to be. Hard to believe that most of the fort is gone but you can see exactly where stuff was back in the day. On the property is also the fort cemetery which I recommend a visit. It's unique in that in a sectioned off part lay German POWs from WWII. I had no idea. Very neat...