1089 - 35th Division Park

Originally built for use during the Indian Wars, Fort Sill was a commanding military base outside Lawton, Oklahoma. However, the turn of the twentieth century brought new conflicts, and with World War I looming, additional posts were needed. Camp Doniphan, a military base adjacent to Fort Sill, was constructed. The camp contained 1,267 buildings, the majority of which were tents, and extended over a 2,000-acre area.

Camp Doniphan, home of the 35th Infantry Division, was activated for artillery training. Thousands of soldiers from Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri were stationed here, in the dusty, wind-swept prairie before traveling across the Atlantic Ocean to Le Havre, France to face combat in the Vosges Mountains. The 35th Division had a soon-to-be well-known officer, Captain Harry S. Truman, who would become the 33rd President of the United States. The post at Camp Doniphan was closed in 1918 and incorporated into Fort Sill, though the legacy of the soldiers lived on.

On August 13, 1922, 35th Division Park was officially dedicated to these brave men. Works Progress Administration in the 1930s contributed to the construction of the park. Today, visitors can utilize tennis courts and a playground, enjoy a gazebo and a fountain, or cool off in a wading pool!