Fort Sill was established in 1869, in what was then Indian territory, by Major General
Philip H. Sheridan, and named in honor of Brigadier General
Joshua W. Sill, who died at the
Battle of Stones River. The area around Fort Sill served as a reservation for displaced Native American groups.
Apache Chief
Geronimo lived the last days of his life, and died at Fort Sill, as did
Kiowa Chief
Kicking Bird. Fort Sill National Cemetery was dedicated on November 2, 2001; it was the second National Cemetery built in the state of Oklahoma. The first stage of development of the cemetery finished in 2003. It is an expansion to the smaller 9-acre burial area located about ten miles south at Fort Sill. The Fort Sill Post Cemetery has had 7,140 interments since 1869. ==References==