"El Reno - Second to Guthrie in Historical Richness" El Reno by mrclay2000

El Reno Travel Guide: 25 reviews and 28 photos

Older than Oklahoma City

El Reno was originally established as a military post in 1875 as a sort of security measure in the Cheyenne-Arapaho reservation established in the 1840s. This detail makes it older than Oklahoma City, yet its founding began in the same vein as part of the Land Run of 1889. El Reno's original charter was granted a month after the run on May 22. Thanks perhaps to the dissolution of the military outpost (though the post served as a prisoner of war retention camp during WWI), El Reno declined as a major city, but happily retained its original buildings and much of its 19th-century charm. It remains the county seat of Canadian County, full of historic and nostalgic tales.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Most of its historical buildings lie on a few easy blocks
Cons:El Reno shows its misfortune on every street
In a nutshell:A historical treasure chest of Oklahoma history second only to Guthrie

Last visit to El Reno: Sep 2003
Intro Written Oct 11, 2003
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Reviews (21)

Interesting Okarche Off The Beaten Path (3)

Okarche is a tiny town just north of El Reno with a famous restaurant known statewide (Eischen's Bar or Eischen's... more travel advice

Historic Kingfisher Off The Beaten Path (3)

Lying about 30 miles north of El Reno on US-81, Kingfisher was once a town of prominence in the Oklahoma landscape, at... more travel advice

Sheridan's Headquarters from Fort Reno - El Reno

Rude Headquarters Indeed Things to Do (13)

Removed a few miles from Fort Reno and not having seen a coat of paint or protectant these many years, the former... more travel advice

Permanent Structures, Variable Tasks Things to Do (13)

On Bickford Avenue stands a large red-brick building that in all likelihood had once been a hotel. Featuring three... more travel advice

Favorites (5)
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Comments (3)

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BruceDunning Oct 27, 2010 at 2:33 PM

Sheridan surely had his time at this spot and the fort looks well preserved. It is a surreal and nice place to visit from your photos and comments.
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mtncorg Oct 23, 2003 at 9:59 AM

Nice look at the 19th Century American frontier as it lives on today in the 21st Century OK State
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herzog63 Oct 12, 2003 at 9:01 PM

I had to consult Brother Webster on plenipotentiaries! ahah But I did enjoy the page! El Reno sure looks like a very historic town! Your attention to detail is always Top Notch!!