Flippers Ditch - Fort Sill - Oklahoma
N 34° 40.542 W 098° 23.873
14S E 555160 N 3837245
Flippers ditch was built 1878-1879 to remove water from the military base.
Waymark Code: WM7PQ8
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 11/19/2009
Views: 15
Text from the marker:
Flipper's Ditch
A Black Military Heritage Site Registered as an enclave of the Fort Sill National Historic Landmark.
This drainage system was engineered in 1878 by lieutenant Henry O Flipper first Black graduate of West Point, and was constructed under his supervison by the "Buffalo Soldiers" the 10th US Cavalary. It eliminated stagnant malarial ponds and swamps created during the rainy season and did much to improve the health of the post. Draining north into Medicine Bluff Creek. It continues to control flood waters and erosion in the area today.
Lt Flipper(1856-1940) Graduated from the United States Military Academy in the class of 1877. His first assignment was frontier duty at Fort Sill in 1878-79. He served with the 10th Calvary regiment in Indian campaigns from 1878 to 1882 including the campaign against the Apache Chief Victorio.
Upon termination of his military service in 1882, Flipper spent 37 years as a renowned civil and mining engineer on the frontiers of te southwest and Mexico. He became the first Black American to gain prominence in the engineering profession.
Related website: Not listed
When was it built?: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
To log a waymark in this category visit it and share your thoughts about the visit. It would be nice to also see photos of the aqueduct.