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Historic site · Oklahoma

Site of Old Fort Nichols

Site of Old Fort Nichols, a historic site in Oklahoma
Site of Old Fort Nichols, a historic site in OklahomaNational Trails Office ( US National Park Service ) · Public domain

Site of Old Fort Nichols is a historic site in Oklahoma, at a modelled elevation of 1,409 m. Rabbit Ear Mountain stands 1,844 m to the southwest, 23 miles off. The nearest named place is Santa Fe Trail Cimarron Route, a historic site 4.8 miles away. Historic Route 66 passes 109 miles off. 67 named places lie within 25 miles, 21 of them named summits.

About

The story

Camp Nichols, also known as Fort Nichols or Camp Nichols Ranch, was a short-lived historic fortification located in present-day Cimarron County, Oklahoma, about 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of the community of Wheeless, Oklahoma. It was built by New Mexico and California volunteers under the command of Col. Kit Carson to protect travelers on the most dangerous part of the Cimarron Cut-off of the Santa Fe Trail from raids by the Kiowa and Comanche Indians. Established in May 1865 and abandoned in September 1865, it was the only human-made structure along the Cimarron Cut-off while it was an active route. It is believed to have been named for Captain Charles P. Nichols of the First California Cavalry. The site was about halfway (150 miles (240 km)) between Fort Union and the Cimarron Crossing of the Arkansas River. The camp was originally a stockaded fort, measuring 200 feet (61 m) by 200 feet (61 m). There were six stone buildings that served as officers' quarters, one building that was the quartermaster's store and an unknown number of stone walled tents housing the soldiers. The facility was surrounded by earth and stone breastworks. Only ruins remain; much of the stone has been removed by people wishing to use it in building other structures. The site is on private property and is not accessible to the public. Cedar Spring, about 0.25 miles (0.4) km west of the fort, provided fresh water for the camp and for passing wagon trains. The remains of the Cimarron Cutoff are about 0.5 miles (0.80 km) south of the camp, and are said to be the most impressive remains of the entire trail. The site was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1963 and subsequently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Wikidata Q785384, referenced by the OpenStreetMap record.

Getting there

How to reach it

Driving directionsPlan a drive around it
Coordinates36.75390, -102.92649
Around it

67 named places within 25 miles

Parks: 34
  • Rita Blanca Wildlife Management Area: 13.1 mi
  • Rita Blanca Wildlife Management Area: 14.0 mi
  • Rita Blanca Wildlife Management Area: 14.8 mi
  • Rita Blanca Wildlife Management Area: 15.3 mi
  • Rita Blanca Wildlife Management Area: 15.3 mi
Peaks: 21
  • Castle Rock Pillar: 12.6 mi
  • Robbers Roost Peak: 13.1 mi
  • Independence Arch: 14.0 mi
  • Red Hill: 14.5 mi
  • Middle Mesa: 16.8 mi
Historic sites: 4
Museums: 2
  • Kenton Museum: 10.5 mi
  • Cimarron Heritage Center Museum: 22.9 mi
Artworks: 2
Attractions: 1
  • Petrified Log Exhibit: 6.7 mi
Nature reserves: 1
  • Black Mesa Nature Preserve: 13.2 mi
Cliffs: 1
Picnic sites: 1
On the horizon

Summits around it

The highest named summits within 25 miles of Site of Old Fort Nichols. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.

SummitBearingElevationDistance
Rabbit Ear MountainSW 229°1,844 m23.4 mi
Rabbit Ear MesaSW 229°1,833 m23.4 mi
Lookout HillWSW 250°1,606 m18.3 mi
Black MesaNW 326°1,597 m20.3 mi
Big Canyon MesaNNW 332°1,537 m18.7 mi
Middle MesaNNW 334°1,514 m16.8 mi
Lone MesaNNW 341°1,493 m17.9 mi
Lone MesaNNW 341°1,493 m17.9 mi
Conditions

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox06:5618:3019:04
June solstice05:3419:3620:15
September equinox06:4018:1618:50
December solstice07:0115:5916:40

Local time (America/Denver).

Climate normals

Months averaging 50–80 °F: Apr–Oct.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °F353846546474787669574536

1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Kenton, 11 mi away.

Sources

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

National Register of Historic Places, reference 66000628OpenStreetMapWikipediaWikidata
  • National Register of Historic Places — Camp Nichols, reference 66000628, listed 10/15/66.

OpenStreetMap element way/317583820

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