For sixty-six years, Oklahoma outlaw Elmer McCurdy traveled the United States quite a bit less than alive. In fact, Elmer McCurdy wasn’t laid to rest until 1977, even though he died in 1911 at the age of 31. Elmer was a charming devil, although not a very bright one. He was born in Maine to […]
Category: History
Historical stories and facts
Poteau’s Origins: The First White Settlers
The Early Years Nearly a decade after the final shot was fired during the Civil War, westward expansion was in full gallop. Many people fled from homes that had been ravaged by the American Civil War and headed west towards the untamed wilds in search for a new start. Many of these early settlers passed […]
Ten Fascinating Architectural Oddities in Oklahoma
1.) The BOK Tower (Williams Center Tower) In 1973, two of the world’s most iconic buildings were constructed. Located in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan, the World Trade Center Towers represented the financial hub of the country. Once known as the tallest buildings in the world, they dominated the skyline of Manhattan for nearly […]
From Irish Famine to Oklahoma Fame: The Story of Frank Murray
Young Frank was only twenty-five years old when he came to the United States. It was 1850. The Great Hunger spread across Northern Ireland like a plague. It would be two more years before the Irish Potato Famine ended. Frank Murray should have been immune. His family was well off, being part of the landed […]
History of the Muscle Car Ranch Open Air Museum in Chickasha, OK
Oklahoma’s Muscle Car Ranch takes you back to a time when sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll reigned supreme. The wild energy of the road provided freedom throughout years of social and political unrest; it was a time of raw energy and boundless design. What started off as a simple fundraiser has evolved into a place that […]
Entertainment, Recreation, and Daily Life in Poteau After Statehood
Along with the massive industrial and commercial growth in Poteau following statehood came a newfound freedom for many of the town’s residents. With more jobs, people had more disposable income to spend on entertainment and recreation. As Poteau continued to grow, larger and more varied businesses soon began to appear. These new businesses offered luxuries […]
How the American Civil War Affected the Choctaw Nation
The Effects of the Civil War The American Civil War (1861–1865) took more American lives than any other war in American history. It so divided the people of the United States that in some families, brother literally fought against brother. In Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory, the four years that the United States was embroiled in the Civil […]
The First Settlers Under Cavanal: A Story of Poteau
The First White Settlers Arrive Nearly a decade after the final shot was fired during the Civil War, westward expansion was in full gallop. Many people fled from homes that had been ravaged by the war and headed toward the untamed wilds in search of a new start. Many of these early settlers passed through […]
Poteau, Oklahoma: The Early Years
Life in Poteau, Oklahoma The No. 2 passenger train rolled in from Ft. Smith at precisely 1:39 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon. The air brakes clamped hard on the wheels, and the train slowly screeched to a halt. Curious onlookers watched as passengers stepped off the train and onto the wood-planked platform. Dust billowed up […]
The Hobos of Southeast Oklahoma
Ever since the first railroads began to creep across the Indian Territory, transient drifters followed. More commonly known as Hobos, these wandering drifters crossed the country in order to seek a cure for their wanderlust, settling down and seeking work whenever it suited them. For many, this began as an adventure. Most of the hobos […]