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 […]
Tag: Oklahoma
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 […]
Ten Totally Cool and Unusual Museums in Tulsa, Oklahoma that you may not have known about!
Tulsa is a city rich in American history, heritage and creative expression – from its Native American origins to its oil industry growth to its art deco landmarks. With this history, a plethora of Tulsa attractions has been established through the years. Some of these museums are world renown for their impressive collections, while others […]
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 […]
Poteau’s Growth through the Railroads
Development of the Frisco Railroad in Poteau The Poteau area was growing rapidly, but the biggest growth didn’t come until the railroad. During the late 1800’s, most long-distance travel was done through the railways. In Indian Territory, there were no railroad tracks laid until the 1880’s. In 1882, the Fort Smith and Southern Railway acquired […]
Early Life in Poteau Switch
Poteau had remained a sleepy little agricultural village until the late 1880’s. Once the railroad to Bengal was completed in 1886, the area immediately saw a building boom. Poteau didn’t gain official status until the following year when, on October 27th, the first post office in town was established. The new town, officially known as […]
Poteau River Flood: A Tale of Wister, Oklahoma
Historic Flooding of the Poteau River Prior to the 1946 Wister Lake Project, the Poteau River has had a history of major flooding throughout the region. Some of the earliest recorded stories go back to the mid-1800s. After the Civil War ended in 1865, southeast Oklahoma became known as “Little Dixie”. Confederate veterans flocked here […]
The Legacy of the Black Angus in Poteau, Oklahoma
A Small Town Named Poteau During the 1950s and 1960s, the small town of Poteau was booming. Downtown, you could do anything from your routine grocery shopping to catching the latest flick at the Victory, Ritz, or Kemp theater. In 1952, a new drive-in theater was built on Broadway, which became an instant hit. Occasionally, […]