The Day the Music Died The clowns no longer laugh, the acrobats no longer soar, and the musicians no longer play. All is quiet under the big top, and yet, in immortal life, the circus lives on. In Hugo, Oklahoma, in a place known as Showman’s Rest, the bones of great legendary circus performers lie […]
Category: History
Historical stories and facts
Frank Lloyd Wright in Oklahoma: The Price Tower
The Realization of a Dream The Price Tower in Bartlesville, Oklahoma is the realization of a dream for famed architect and designer Frank Lloyd Wright. First conceived in the mid-twenties, it would take nearly thirty years before Wright would have a chance to build his first and only skyscraper. Frank Lloyd Wright was a visionary. […]
Philbrook Museum of Art: An Architectural Masterpiece
Tulsa’s Philbrook Museum of Art: A mastery of Design The mastery of architecture in Tulsa takes no greater form than in Villa Philbrook. This mastery can be seen in every small detail; from the sweeping lines of the grand vestibule to the highly stylized chimera scattered throughout the villa. Highly ornate columns straddle the upstairs […]
Oklahoma Civil War Naval Battle: Recovering the J.R. Williams
Oklahoma’s Civil War Naval Battle In 1862, the Union Navy confiscated the J.R. Williams under the premise that the steamboat was being used to carry military contraband into the Confederate ports. After the Union Navy took possession of the J. R. Williams, the steam-wheeler was sent to Cairo, Illinois, for outfitting as a supply boat […]
Vikings in Oklahoma: Norsemen and the Heavener Runestone
From Europe to America The Vikings have landed in Oklahoma. To be more specific, they have landed in Heavener, Oklahoma. We can only speculate as to why they came, but many archeologists agree that there were, in fact, Vikings in Oklahoma. It has been proven that Vikings have visited North American several times in our […]
Medieval Castles in Oklahoma: Historic Information and Fun Facts
Yes, There Are Castles in Oklahoma When most people think of Oklahoma, they think of cowboys and Indians or of oil and large cornfields. But castles in Oklahoma? It’s hard to even put those two words together—Oklahoma Castle. It just sounds wrong. But yes, there are indeed castles in Oklahoma. If you’re disappointed that this […]
Spiro Mounds: Spanish Gold, Empires, and Southeast Oklahoma
What Is Spiro Mounds? Spiro Mounds is part of an ancient American Indian empire located in Spiro, Oklahoma. This is the story of that empire. Spiro Mounds: In Search of a Legend It was in 1541 when the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto ventured through Southeastern Oklahoma. With a little less than 300 men, de […]
A Fascinating Glimpse Into Okmulgee, Oklahoma’s History During the Great Depression: 1920–1929
Okmulgee History: The Roaring ’20s and a Slow Decline The Roaring ’20s hit Okmulgee much like it did in the rest of the country. Radio programs were popular, as television hadn’t been invented yet. People sat around and listened to popular shows or music from great jazz artists such as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. Towards […]
Historic Okmulgee: How Oil Tycoons Created one of Oklahoma’s Wealthiest Towns
Okmulgee’s history is rich with both triumph and tragedy. From the rebirth of the Creek Indian and the many state changing decisions made in Creek Counsel House, to the tragedies of the Great Depression, this series will outline the key events that brought this small town national prestige. Before you leave, be sure to check […]
How the Creek Indian Capital Okmulgee Gave Birth to a Fledgling City
Okmulgee: The Creek Indian Capital Okmulgee’s history is rich with both triumph and tragedy. From the rebirth of the Creek Indian and the many state-changing decisions made in Creek Counsel House to the tragedies of the Great Depression, this series will outline the key events that brought this small town national prestige. In this article about historic […]