Fort Reno - El Reno, Oklahoma
Fort Reno began in July 1874 as a temporary military camp near the Darlington Indian Agency, established to manage tensions from the Red River War. By July 15, permanent structures were under construction, and the site was officially named Fort Reno—honoring Major General Jesse L. Reno, who was killed in the Civil War at South Mountain.
Frontier Role: Protecting the Reservation
Situated on the edge of the Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho reservation, Fort Reno became a key base for enforcing federal policies during the land rushes of 1889, 1892, and 1894. The famed Buffalo Soldiers of the 9th and 10th Cavalry were stationed here, helping to control “Boomer” settlers and maintain order.
Transformation to Remount Depot
After Oklahoma achieved statehood, the Army briefly left in early 1908 but returned to convert the post into a quartermaster remount depot. For the next four decades, the fort specialized in breeding and training thousands of horses and mules—even sending them overseas during World Wars I and II.
World War II: POW Camp & Chapel
In 1943, Fort Reno began serving as a prisoner-of-war camp for German and Italian soldiers captured in North Africa. The POWs worked on local farms and built the stone Post Chapel. Seventy former prisoners are buried in the cemetery alongside soldiers and frontier figures.
Agricultural Legacy: USDA Research Laboratory
The Army decommissioned the fort in 1949, transferring it to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Today, the expansive Grazinglands Research Laboratory oversees roughly 6,700 acres of prairie, developing sustainable practices for forage and livestock that help safeguard the Great Plains.
Preservation & Public Access
Designated on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, Fort Reno came under the stewardship of Historic Fort Reno, Inc. A Visitor Center opened in 1997, housing exhibits on Buffalo Soldiers, Black Jack (the riderless horse famed for presidential funerals), POW narratives, Frederic Remington artworks, autogiro flights by Amelia Earhart, and memorabilia from its military and agricultural eras.
Notable Figures & Cultural Touchstones
In the 1920s, aviatrix Amelia Earhart flew her autogiro over the fort, and Western humorist Will Rogers enjoyed polo matches on the grounds. In 1888, Frederic Remington spent three months painting Buffalo Soldiers, cavalry troopers, scouts, and Cheyenne individuals—capturing frontier life at its rawest.
Visitor Experience & Events
Over 25 historical buildings—including officers’ quarters, barracks, stables, the POW-built chapel, and the Post Cemetery—cluster around the parade ground. A highlight is the “Tombstone Tales” cemetery event in September, where costumed guides recount stories of the people laid to rest there. Monthly “Spirit Tours” and ghost walks with reenactors add an eerie, immersive dimension.
Fort Reno stands as a crossroads of military, cultural, and agricultural history. Whether you’re tracing the legacy of Buffalo Soldiers, exploring WAVEs of World War II, admiring prairie conservation efforts, or savoring Route 66 nostalgia, this site offers layers of story under one prairie sky.