Near El Reno in Canadian County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

Fort Reno

Old Post about 2 mi. N.

1. Fort Reno Marker

Inscription. U.S. troops encamped near Cheyenne Agency in Indian uprising 1874. Site s.w. of agency selected by Agt. J.D. Miles and Capt T. Wint, established as permanent post in July, 1875, and named for Gen. Jesse L. Reno who died in action in Battle of Antietam, 1862. Post abandoned Feb 24, 1908. Reserve was U.S. remount station to 1949.

Erected 1950 by Oklahoma Historical Society and State Highway Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. In addition, it is included in the Buffalo Soldiers, and the Oklahoma Historical Society series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1875.

Location. 35° 32.242′ N, 98° 1.566′ W. Marker is near El Reno, Oklahoma, in Canadian County. It is on Business U.S. 66, on the right when traveling west. Marker is on a roadside pullout, about two miles from Fort Reno (from the east, take old Highway 66 and soon after you'll see the entrance to the Fort Reno site). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: El Reno OK 73036, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Oklahoma — Frontier Country

and in Greater Oklahoma City.

It is also in the American South,

specifically on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Chisholm Trail and Fort Reno (approx. 1.7 miles away); a different marker also named Fort Reno (approx. 1.7 miles away); School and Chapel 1885 / Home of Ben & Moka Clark 1908 - 1914

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

(approx. 1.7 miles away); 1876 Officers' Quarters (approx. 1.7 miles away); a different marker also named Fort Reno (approx. 1.7 miles away); Commanding Officer's Quarters/BlueSTEM AgriLearning Center (approx. 1.8 miles away); Hospital/USDA ARS Grazinglands Research Laboratory Administration Building (approx. 1.8 miles away); Adjutant Office (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in El Reno.

More about this marker. Marker repeats on both sides.

Regarding Fort Reno. Fort Reno, a military camp in 1874, was established to protect the personnel at the Cheyenne & Arapaho Agency. In 1875, the commanding officer was authorized to select a site for a military post. First known as the "Camp Near Cheyenne Agency," the location was named Fort Reno in honor of Major Jesse Reno in 1876. The cavalry and infantry stationed at Fort Reno played an important role in the transition of the area from Indian Territory status through Oklahoma statehood. United States Cavalry units, including the Buffalo Soldiers (the 9th and 10th U.S. Cavalry), and the Cheyenne & Arapaho Indian Scouts maintained

Photographed by Jason Voigt, April 9, 2021

2. Fort Reno Marker

Marker is on a roadside pullout, very close to the Business 40/OK-66 and Old Route 66 junction. This is looking west.

the peace on the central plains until the turn of the century. The Fort Reno troops helped extract the "Boomers" from the Unassigned Lands of Indian Territory prior to their opening for settlement through the 1889 land run. The Fort Reno soldiers also assisted with other land runs in 1892 and 1894.

General Jesse L. Reno image. Click for full size.

Internet Archive

3. General Jesse L. Reno

General Reno, born in Wheeling, W. Va., June 20th, 1823, died on South Mountain, Md., September 14th, 1862, was graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1846, and at once promoted brevet second lieutenant of ordnance. He served in the Mexican War, taking part in the battles of Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Churubusco and Chapultepec, and in the siege of Vera Cruz he was commissioned second lieutenant, March 3d, 1847; brevetted first lieutenant, April 18th, for gallant conduct in the first-named engagement, and captain, September 13th, for bravery at Chapultepec, where he was severely wounded. In the Civil War he was commissioned brigadier general, November 12th, 1861, and major general of volunteers, July 18th, 1862; led a brigade under General Burnside in the taking of Roanoke Island, N. C., February 8th, 1862; was engaged under General Pope at Manassas and Chantilly, Va. At Turner's Gap in South Mountain, Md., he repelled the Confederates under Lee, and after being in action all day he was killed in the evening of September 14th, 1862.

— Frank Leslie's Scenes and Portraits of the Civil War... by Frank Leslie, 1846, Page 246.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 19, 2011, by Christopher Suttle of Norman, Oklahoma. This page has been viewed 2,354 times since then and 83 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 19, 2011, by Christopher Suttle of Norman, Oklahoma. 2. submitted on April 10, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. 3. submitted on March 23, 2024, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.