Episode 155: The Ghosts of Fort Sill
Is it possible for a military base to never truly "close," but instead just layer century after century of restless energy into the soil?
In this episode, we are heading to Lawton, Oklahoma, to explore Fort Sill. Unlike other frontier posts that were abandoned to the elements, Fort Sill has been continuously active since 1869. It has evolved from a horseback frontier outpost to a high-tech artillery hub—but it has never quite managed to shake its past.
From its founding by General Philip Sheridan and George Armstrong Custer to its dark days as a prisoner-of-war camp for Geronimo and the Chiricahua Apaches, Fort Sill is a pressure cooker of American history. We dive into the "Old Post Quadrangle," built by the legendary Buffalo Soldiers, and explore why this site is considered one of the most haunted military installations in the United States.
In this episode, we discuss:
The Founding & The "Peace Policy": How a tent city became the epicenter of the Indian Wars.
The Sherman Incident: The bloody struggle on a front porch that almost cost a General his life.
Geronimo’s Final Years: The truth behind his death and the chilling "Skull and Bones" legend surrounding his grave.
The Most Haunted Locations: From the "rocking chair lady" in the Sherman House to the phantom riders on the Cavalry Parade Field.
Modern Shadows: Why current trainees still report "shadow people" and phantom drumbeats in the barracks today.
Whether it’s the spirit of a mother searching for her lost children or the rhythmic cadence of a 19th-century bugle call, Fort Sill proves that some soldiers never truly finish their watch.
Want to see the "Gun Park" or walk the haunted quadrangle yourself? Check out our show sources for info on Fort Sill’s historical walking tours and a list of the episodes mentioned in today's show (Ft. Washita #26, Ft. Reno #45, and Quanah Parker #132).
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