Who Is Mickey Mantle? He was one of the greatest switch-hitters to ever play the game. He is considered to be one of the game’s most legendary figures. For 18 years, he helped propel the New York Yankees into the spotlight time and time again. The game is baseball, and the legendary figure is none other than […]
Category: History
Historical stories and facts
Retro-Futuristic Attractions in Oklahoma
The Space Age Like a retro-futuristic scene straight out of a sci-fi Steampunk novel, Oklahoma has had some beautifully bizarre architectural creations through the years. These extraordinary architectural creations can trace their roots back to 1944. That was the year that the Space Age officially began. Even before that, the age was rooted as far […]
Tulsa Airport History: A Fascinating Glimpse Back in Time
Duncan A. McIntyre and Tulsa’s Finest Airport The history of Tulsa’s airport begins in 1919 with Duncan A. McIntyre. McIntyre, a native of New Zealand and an avid aviator, flew to Tulsa to visit an old army buddy. At this time, progress in Tulsa was in full bloom. Nearly twenty years earlier, Tulsa had gained […]
Oklahoma, Explorers, and the Seven Cities of Gold
A Myth and a Friar The first European exploration of Oklahoma began with a myth and a friar. After serving in Peru, Friar Marcos de Niza was sent to seek out the fabled golden cities that lie north of New Spain’s frontier. During this time, Spain controlled most of what is modern-day Mexico, Latin America, […]
Origins of Poteau’s Schools: Oklahoma’s First Free School
The Subscription Schools The origins of Poteau’s modern school system can be traced back to 1898. Before then, there were two “subscription” schools. The first dates back to around 1875. It was located near the intersection of College and Broadway and consisted of an old log house with dirt floors. The school was primitive by […]
A History of the Choctaw Country Club & Golf Course in Poteau
Golf Throughout the Ages Throughout recorded history, every civilization has played a game with a club and a ball. For example, Pangea, as described by Roman scribes, would appear to be the source of a precursor to modern hockey and the Celtic games of Shinty and Hurling. In one form or another, older varieties of […]
Desegregation in Oklahoma: The First School in Oklahoma to Be Integrated
Slavery, Freedmen, and Southeast Oklahoma The first black slaves began to arrive in what would become Oklahoma long before the American Civil War. They arrived during the push for westward migration. As the wild frontier began to dwindle, many white cotton farmers began to seek land in the American Southeast, primarily within the Mississippi River […]
Early Railroads of Southeast Oklahoma
Development of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad During the late 1800s, most long-distance travel was done through the railways. In Indian Territory, there were no railroad tracks laid until the 1880s. The first rail line in Indian Territory was the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railway Company (MK&T, or Katy). They ran a line […]
Stories of Old Oklahoma: Frontier Life in Poteau Switch
White Man’s View of Native Americans After Arriving in Poteau During the late 1800’s, Indian Territory began to see a huge influx of white settlers. Following the arrival of the railroad, transportation routes were opened up that brought in even more people. Many Native American’s opposed this as they saw it as the U.S. Government […]
Frontier Life in Old Poteau Switch, Oklahoma
The Early Days of Poteau From the formation of the Indian Territory until Statehood, eastern Oklahoma was outlaw territory. Following the Civil War, many stories of outlaws, robberies, and other acts of violence were reported throughout the area. Much of this was contained by the Lighthorsemen, but these Native American law officers didn’t have authority […]