Boggy Depot, Doaksville, Skullyville, Colbert’s Ferry; these are all place names easily associated with Oklahoma’s early history. There are a number of tales of the old Butterfield Overland Mail company and of the trepidatious cattle drives. Still, some stories from that era remain lost in time. One such story is the tale of Heckabbe’s Station […]
Tag: Legends
A Tale of Bonnie and Clyde: The Bank Robbery at Poteau, Oklahoma
Meet Bonnie and Clyde After a long string of petty thefts that began in 1926, Clyde Chestnut Barrow was sent to the Eastham Prison Farm in April 1930. The Eastham Prison Farm was the first maximum-security prison in Texas. Because of its grueling work assignments, treacherous conditions, and difficulty escaping the unit, even hard-core criminals […]
History of the Blue Whale of Catoosa: An Oklahoma Whale of a Tale
Swimming through a sea of green foliage, the Catoosa blue whale smiles happily at travelers driving along the historic Route 66. The blue whale’s wide smile just begs for attention, and like the call of the ancient Sirens, visitors are entranced by this great hunk of concrete. Today, Catoosa’s Blue Whale is a captivating tourist […]
Prehistoric Oklahoma: The Tale of An Discovery In Burnham, Oklahoma
Clovis and Pre-Clovis sites have been found all across the United States. One such site, discovered in Burnham, Oklahoma, provides many clues that help scientists learn more about how these ancient Clovis peoples lived, and how their migrations across the US and into Oklahoma affected later generations. Through careful study, scientists now understand more fully […]
Medieval Castles in Oklahoma: Tucker Tower at Lake Murray, Historic Information and Fun Facts
Tucker Tower at Lake Murray Perched high atop a twisted strand of rock, Tucker Tower juts out of the cliff like an ancient fortress of old. Protected on three sides by a massive lake, the tower stands like a lone sentinel against the vestiges of time. Despite its appearance, Tucker Tower is not as ancient […]
Oklahoma Treasure: The Miners Loot at Black Dog Trail Crossing
“Boys I believe I have found a gold mine!” All it took was these simple words to set in motion a global cascade of events that forever changed the American West. It was in 1848 when an obscure New Jersey carpenter and mechanic named James W. Marshall uttered these words. By 1849, gold passion was […]
Judge Isaac Parker: The Hanging Judge of Indian Territory
Post-Civil War Lawlessness He was only one man, but this one man wielded his power like a razor-sharp sword. It had been ten years since the end of the American Civil War. Ten years for lawlessness to spread across Indian Territory like an inferno. The territory had been set aside in 1834 as a refuge […]
Eleven Oklahoma Inventions that Everybody Knows: Fun Facts
Oklahoma Invention and Inventors Some of the smartest and most creative minds have come from Oklahoma. Along with the many great places to visit and the numerous famous people that come from the state, Oklahoma boasts countless inventions that have changed our lives for the better. The Shopping Cart: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Sylvan Goldman is […]
Buried treasure in Oklahoma: The Strange Tale of Standing Rock
The Tale of Standing Rock Treasure From buried Spanish gold to ill-gotten gains of outlaw loot, Oklahoma has a fantastic history of producing treasure tales. Some of these stories border on the absurd, while others are deeply rooted in historical fact. The tale of Standing Rock contains a bit of flavor from both. On one […]
The Ghosts of Ft. Washita, Oklahoma: A Civil War Haunting Ground
Tonight would change her life – for eternity. The azure moon hung low over Ft. Washita, its crescent shape casting faded shadows that snaked across the lawn like a wraith. Crouching in the shadows, she scanned the Fort for Confederate soldiers. Besides a couple guards posted at the guardhouse, the grounds were empty. The officers’ […]