Virtual Visits During Quarantine - Park Unit 125, 126: Oklahoma - Chichasaw Battlefield and Wachita NRA

As we hunker down at home during the quarantine for Covid 19, our beloved National Park rangers have begun to offer virtual visits to the park units! We are very excited to have this opportunity to feel like we are still traveling - and to get virtual park stamps makes it even better! 

Tonight we visited Oklahoma remotely. We started with the Wachita Battlefield National Historic Site. From the NPS website: "November 27, 1868, Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer led the 7th U.S. Cavalry on a surprise dawn attack on a Cheyenne village led by Peace Chief Black Kettle. The event was an example of the tragic clash of cultures that occurred during the Great Plains Wars. It is also a place of remembrance and reflection for those who died here." We were able to learn about the history of the park and we spent time learning about the people who are memorialized. The photos of the memorial reminded us a lot of the battlefield parks we visited in Tennessee.

Next,we virtually visited Chickataw National Recreation Area. Viewing the beautiful paths, waterways, natural springs, and animals in the photos made me really want to visit this NRA in person! This picture is of Travertine Creek.

We learned that Chickataw was originally known as Sulphur Springs Reservation, then it became Platt National Park - the 7th national park created in 1902. The park is full of engineering and infrastructure elements created by the CCC in the 1930s. In 1976 it merged with the Arbuckle Recreation Area and became the Chickasaw NRA. The best part was seeing the CCC buildings and bridges that reminded us of other parks, such as Shenandoah. This is a park that will go on our bucket list to return to in person!!

Finally, we visited virtually the Oklahoma City National Memorial. Catherine and I had been here in person when we drove across country to California in 2013. It was a very moving place and I appreciated the photos to remember the feeling of sadness and connection to all people who grieve - especially now while we deal with the devastation of the corona virus around the world.

These virtual NPS visits are a bright light during a dark time and we are planning to visit more each evening - until we are able to go adventuring again!!