Honey Springs Battlefield and Visitor Center

06/05/2026

Honey Springs Battlefield will hold its annual memorial service on Saturday, July 18, at 10:30 a.m., to honor the 163rd anniversary of the Battle of Honey Springs near Checotah.

The service commemorates the largest of approximately 107 documented Civil War military engagements that took place throughout Indian Territory, now present-day Oklahoma. The engagement took place at the Honey Springs settlement, Muscogee (Creek) Nation, on July 17, 1863, just two weeks after the famous Battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg. Approximately 9,000 Union and Confederate troops, mostly Native and African Americans, were involved in the Battle of Honey Springs. Of those, approximately 200 total casualties were suffered. After a decisive Union victory, the Confederates lost control of Indian Territory north of the Arkansas River. The Union victory also ensured Federal control of Fort Gibson in Indian Territory and Fort Smith in Arkansas.

Tom Wing from the Drennen-Scott Historic Site will serve as the keynote speaker, addressing the connections between Arkansas and Indian Territory during the Civil War and their influence on the Battle of Honey Springs. OHS Executive Director Trait Thompson and HSB Site Director Molly Hutchins will also offer remarks. Seth Goff, Historical Interpreter at Fort Gibson Historic Site, and living historian Jacob Spillars will post the colors. Jim Spillars will play Taps, and the Fort Towson Historic Site crew will present an artillery salute. The event will conclude with the annual meeting of the Friends of Honey Springs Battlefield.

For more information regarding the memorial service and Honey Springs Battlefield, call 918-617-7125. You can also email [email protected].

06/03/2026

Check out this report from the Eufaula Indian Journal from 1878! ☔

Which reminds us...it is the time of year when flooding in our area is quite common! With lots of rain in the forecast for the next several weeks, we highly recommend checking our page before heading this way!

We are open normal hours (Tuesday-Saturday, 9am-4:30pm) unless water is over the road! We hope to see you soon!

06/02/2026

Did you know that Honey Springs is not the only Civil War related site in Oklahoma?

Check out this map that the Oklahoma Historical Society published in the 1960s, outlining a few of the Civil War sites across Indian Territory!

While many of these sites are designated by only a historic marker and several are on private property today, there are some you can still visit!

-Fort Towson Historic Site and Doaksville near Hugo, Oklahoma
-Fort Gibson Historic Site in Fort Gibson
-Cabin Creek Battlefield near Vinita
- Hunter's Home near Tahlequah

Only one of these sites is a Civil War battlefield, but all 4 were important in shaping the Civil War Era in Indian Territory!

05/28/2026

We are proud to be a in 2026! ⭐🇺🇸

Active military personnel and their families can visit Honey Springs Battlefield for free from May 16 (Armed Forces Day) through September 7 (Labor Day).

While this only applies to Active Duty personal and their families, we offer free admission to Veterans year-round (general admission fees apply to family members).

We are so thankful for your service and can’t wait for you to visit!!

05/27/2026

We finally received more copies of one of our favorite books about the Civil War in Indian Territory, When the Wolf Came by Mary Jane Warde!

When the Wolf Came provides one of the best overviews of the war in the territory and it is now available in the Honey Springs gift shop!

Come visit and pick up a copy today! 📖

05/25/2026

Today we honor all of the men and women who have laid down their lives in the service of our country.

While the exact number of casualties from the Battle of Honey Springs is unknown, it is estimated to be around 250. As the site of the largest Civil War battle in Indian Territory, the significance of these soldier's sacrifice is not lost on us.

And while this day is set aside to honor the lives lost in battle, we want to say a special THANK YOU to all of the men and women who have served and continue to serve our country!
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Pictured: Honey Springs Reenactment 2025, photographed by Shane Bevel Photography

05/20/2026

Did you know that the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame is located just across the street from the Honey Springs Visitor Center?

While we wouldn't normally post about things that are not Civil War related, we are so happy to see that the Blues Hall of Fame is continuing the mission of our friend Selby!

Selby Miner was a great supporter of the battlefield, a fantastic musician, an advocate for music education, the dedicated curator of the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame, and much more.

See the Friends Of Rentiesville Blues Inc. upcoming event details below! And give their page a follow to learn more about their preservation of DC and Selby's legacy!

Come out and help us celebrate the newest inductees of the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame!!!
We will feature each inductee this week!

05/16/2026

We had an AMAZING turnout for our Sabers and Shotguns: Civil War Cavalry in Indian Territory program today!

We had around 70 visitors in attendance to learn about and watch Civil War cavalry in action!

Thank you to everyone who came today, and a HUGE thank you to Cody Faber, Jesse Phipps, and Blackjack (the true star of the show) for putting on such a great demonstration 🐎

05/15/2026

Join us TOMORROW for Sabers and Shotguns!

Join us at Honey Springs Battlefield on Saturday, May 16th at 10:30 A.M. for a Cavalry Demonstration by Cody Faber and Jesse Phipps

The program will focus on cavalry soldiers and their arms, equipment, saddles and tack as well as the most important weapon, the horse. Come see how these mounted soldiers greatly affected the war in Indian Territory 🐎

This program will be held near the monument area at Honey Springs Battlefield. Due to staffing, the Visitors Center will be closed during the program but will re-open once it concludes.

The program is free, normal admission fees apply for the Visitors Center.

📸: Fort Smith National Historic Site