The terrain was treacherous, the heat unbearable, and the pay was paltry. Still, through the wild frontier of Indian Territory, these spirited cowboys braved disaster and desolation in search of the American dream. Many of these cowboys were born from one of the worst wars this country has ever fought. The Civil War had left […]
Tag: Oklahoma
Peter Conser: Tragedy and Triumph — A Tale of the Indian Territories
Indian Territories In the years following the terrible “Trail of Tears,” and before Oklahoma gained statehood, the Indian Territories remained wild and rugged. In southeastern Oklahoma, in what was once the Choctaw Nation, there lived a man who would come to define what it meant to be victorious over an unforgiving frontier. Early Life of […]
Scouting History in Oklahoma: A Brief History of the Boy Scouts in Oklahoma
The Birth of the Boy Scouts: An Oklahoman Odyssey Boy scout. That phrase automatically conjures up images of khaki and tan uniforms, of courageous young men, and of humble and loyal traditions. Like our forefathers before us, these young men seek to explore the world through high adventure and constant learning. They yearn for knowledge, […]
Pioneer Life: Sod Homes on the Prairies
Oklahoma Settlement Begins Overburdened wagon trains lined the border between Kansas and Indian Territory on a warm spring day in April 1889. Excitement coursed through the crowd as they waited in eager anticipation. They had come in droves from all walks of life; there were doctors, lawyers, dentists, shopkeepers, farmers, and even the occasional ruffian. […]
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 […]
Unusual Tulsa Restaurants – 5 Outlandish Places to Eat
Odd Restaurants While Tulsa has some of the most outstanding restaurants in the state, there are none more unusual than the five Tulsa restaurants listed below. These unusual restaurants range from the whimsical to the magical, from Old Mexico to Asia, and across space and time. If you’re looking for some unusual restaurants to eat […]
The Submarine Killer: USS Batfish in Muskogee, Oklahoma
U.S.S. Batfish: January 19, 1944 The submarine rode in the water like a mechanical bull, creaking and groaning as she made her way across the southern Pacific. It had been two years since the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor when the U.S.S. Batfish began her first war patrol. Heavy seas and malfunctions plagued the sub during the […]
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 […]