Home |   About OHS |  Historical Marker Program

Historical Marker Program

Search Results

Your search returned 44 results.


Bedlam

Logan County
Location: in Mineral Wells Park on south edge of Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.868773, -97.426550
Material: Granite
Sponsor(s): OU/OSU Bedlam Centennial
Topics: Recreational/Service; Social/Cultural; Territorial Period, 1861–1907

Commemorates the first football game between Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma held in present-day Mineral Wells Park in Guthrie on November 5, 1904.

Blue Bell Bar

Logan County
Location: at Harrison Avenue and Second Street in Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.877057, -97.427351
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
Topics: Folklife; Recreational/Service; Social/Cultural; Territorial Period, 1861–1907

This was one of Guthrie's most popular saloons during territorial days. Cowboy star Tom Mix was a bartender at the Blue Bell before he left for Hollywood. The original frame building was replaced by the present brick structure in 1903.

Bonfils Building

Logan County
Location: at 107 South Second Street in Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.877679, -97.427689
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
Topics: Folklife; Industry/Business; Mass Communication; Territorial Period, 1861–1907

F. C. Bonfils ran his real estate business from an office in the first floor of this building and lived on the second floor. Bonfils, a descendant of Napoleon Bonaparte, was considered a con man in his early years. However, he later moved to Denver, Colorado, and co-founded the Denver Post newspaper.

Brooks Opera House

Logan County
Location: at Harrison Avenue and Wentz Avenue in Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.877068, -97.424580
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
Topics: Arts; Early Statehood, 1907–1941; Government; Social/Cultural; Territorial Period, 1861–1907

Constructed in 1899 by owner/manager James B. Brooks, this three-story limestone opera house seated 1,100 and contained ten finely appointed private boxes. It was furnished with folding upholstered chairs, steam heat, electric lights, hot and cold water, and other amenities. The adjacent Hotel Royal contained 80 guest rooms. On November 16, 1907, Governor Charles Haskell took the oath of office as the state of Oklahoma's first governor in room 47 of the hotel. Later that day, he was sworn in again in a public ceremony on the steps of the Carnegie Library.

Carnegie Library

Logan County
Location: at 402 East Oklahoma Avenue in Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.878167, -97.421080
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
Topics: Arts; Early Statehood, 1907–1941; Government; Social/Cultural; Territorial Period, 1861–1907

Constructed in 1902 with a $25,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie, this restored building is now connected to the Oklahoma Territorial Museum. The last territorial governor and the first state governor took their oaths of office here. The mock wedding symbolizing the joining of Oklahoma and Indian Territory as the state of Oklahoma took place on the library steps on November 16, 1907.

Carnegie Library

Logan County
Location: outside main entrance of Oklahoma Territorial Museum in Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.878187, -97.420805
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Daughters of the American Revolution
Topics: Arts; Social/Cultural; Territorial Period, 1861–1907

Celebrating our rich heritage of early literacy promotion by recognizing the oldest Carnegie Library in Oklahoma still in existence.

Constitutional Convention

Logan County
Location: inside City Hall, 101 North Second, Guthrie (DAR)
Coordinates: 35.878274, -97.427782
Material: Bronze tablet
Sponsor(s): Daughters of the American Revolution
Topics: Early Statehood, 1907–1941; Government; Territorial Period, 1861–1907

Oklahoma's Constitutional Convention was held in 1906 and 1907 in the old City Hall at this site.

De Steiguer Building

Logan County
Location: at Division Street and Oklahoma Avenue in Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.878109, -97.424779
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
Topics: Industry/Business; Natural Resources; Territorial Period, 1861–1907

Built in 1890 by the De Steiguer brothers, banking pioneers, this building was actually two buildings, constructed to look as one. This building is one of few historic downtown structures with a façade of Oklahoma native red sandstone.

DeFord Building

Logan County
Location: at 116 South Second Street in Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.877456, -97.427513
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
Topics: Social/Cultural; Territorial Period, 1861–1907; Urban Development

Possibly the gem of Joseph Foucart's architecture in downtown Guthrie, this building was completed in 1890. Irwin S. DeFord, the original owner, lived upstairs. In 1981, the building was given to the Logan County Historical Society.

First City Hall

Logan County
Location: North 1st Street and West Oklahoma Avenue in Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.878517, -97.426500
Material: Stone
Sponsor(s): Fogarty Jr. High School
Topics: Government; Territorial Period, 1861–1907; Urban Development

This stone marks the site of the first city hall and water works of Guthrie. The old well is a few feet east of this marker. The jog in the alley is due to the building the alley around the first city hall and jail.

First Library

Logan County
Coordinates: 35.878183, -97.421317
Material: Stone
Sponsor(s): Fogarty Jr. High School
Topics: Social/Cultural; Territorial Period, 1861–1907; Urban Development

This is the first Carnegie Library in Okla. Frank Frantz, last Territorial Governor and Charles Haskell, first State Governor were inaugurated on the steps here. The mock wedding of Miss Indian Territory and Mr. Oklahoma Territory was here. The first state flag was made here by 90 Okla. women on June 16, 1908.

First Townsite of Marshall

Logan County
Location: on OK-74E in Marshall
Coordinates: 36.159599, -97.621347
Material: Aluminum
Topics: Government; Territorial Period, 1861–1907; Urban Development

The town of Marshall began at the site of the Crossroads store on the claim of Sylvan T. Rice. The post office was established on March 1, 1890. The new townsite was occupied in 1894.

Foucart Building

Logan County
Location: at Harrison Avenue and Division Street in Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.876876, -97.426153
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
Topics: Industry/Business; Retail; Territorial Period, 1861–1907; Urban Development

Built in 1891, the structure housed many retail businesses and offices, including the office of building architect Joseph Foucart.

Free Masonry (Birthplace of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in Oklahoma)

Logan County
Location: at Broad Street and Harrison Avenue in Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.877125, -97.422562
Material: Aluminum
Topics: Early Statehood, 1907–1941; Religion/Philosophy; Social/Cultural; Territorial Period, 1861–1907

The cornerstone for Oklahoma's first Scottish Rite Masonic Temple was laid here on October 4, 1899. The building served Masons until a new edifice was constructed at 900 East Oklahoma Avenue in 1920. The old building was razed in 1956.

Gray Bros. Building

Logan County
Location: at Division Street and West Oklahoma Avenue in Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.877983, -97.425567
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
Topics: Early Statehood, 1907–1941; Industry/Business; Territorial Period, 1861–1907; Urban Development

Wm. H. “Harry” Gray, a naturalized Canadian, homesteaded the lot bearing the west half of this building. He staked it April 22, 1889 and immediately relocated his grocery and wholesale business from Udall, Kan. His brother, George, joined him in buying the corner lot, where they built in 1890 the elaborate brick and sandstone structure that commands the intersection.

Guthrie

Logan County
Location: on US-77 in south Guthrie
Sponsor(s): Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Daughters of the American Revolution
Topics: Early Statehood, 1907–1941; Government; Social/Cultural; Territorial Period, 1861–1907

Guthrie was the capital of Oklahoma Territory and first capital of the state of Oklahoma, named in honor of Kansas Judge John Guthrie. The town's first post office opened on April 4, 1889. Guthrie was a station on the Santa Fe Railroad before the run of April 22, 1889. The constitutional convention was held here, and Charles Haskell, the state's first governor, was inaugurated here on November 16, 1907.

Note: This marker is no longer extant.

Guthrie

Logan County
Location: in Mineral Wells Park on south edge of Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.868752, -97.426179
Material: Granite with stone base
Sponsor(s): Daughters of the American Revolution
Topics: Early Statehood, 1907–1941; Government; Social/Cultural; Territorial Period, 1861–1907

This area opened April 22, 1889, became 1st capital of new state of Oklahoma and was only capital of Oklahoma Territory. State constitutional convention held here in 1906. Capitol Building now part of Scottish Rite Consistory. History typical of early land rush area with unique political role. Many early public buildings and homes survive.

Guthrie City Hall

Logan County
Location: at Second Street and Oklahoma Avenue in Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.878163, -97.427701
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
Topics: Government; Territorial Period, 1861–1907

The cornerstone for the Guthrie City Hall building was laid on April 9, 1902. The second floor of the structure was used for Oklahoma's Constitutional Convention beginning in November 1906. The city hall was razed in 1955, and a new building was constructed.

Guthrie Daily Leader

Logan County
Location: at Division Street and Harrison Avenue in Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.876916, -97.425855
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
Topics: Mass Communication; Territorial Period, 1861–1907

Built in 1891, the building became home to the Guthrie Daily Leader three years later. The paper was the prominent Democratic newspaper in Oklahoma Territory. The structure was completely remodeled in 1976.

Guthrie National Bank

Logan County
Location: at First Street and Oklahoma Avenue in Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.878103, -97.426731
Material: Aluminum
Topics: Early Statehood, 1907–1941; Government; Industry/Business; Territorial Period, 1861–1907; Urban Development

The bank was the first brick structure built in what would become Oklahoma Territory. Completed in the summer of 1889, the building housed the grand reception for a visiting congressional delegation in September of that year. In 1923, the present building replaced the original structure. The Guthrie National Bank was the first national bank chartered in either of the twin territories.

Indian Meridian

Logan County
Location: northeast of intersection of Logan Road and Washington Avenue in Langston
Coordinates: 35.942161, -97.246934
Material: Granite

Surveyed by E.N. Darling, Texas to Kansas, 1870. East is Iowa Indian Reservation (settled September 22, 1891). West is Unassianged Lands (settled Apr 22, 1889). All farms, town lots, oil wells in Oklahoma east of the Panhandle are designated from Indian Meridian and Base Line. Main road Guthrie to Stillwater early 1890. Monument erected About 1922 on proposed Ozark Trail. Original plaque by Early Day Settlers. Plaque erected 1967. Replacement erected 2013.

International Building

Logan County
Location: at Second Street and Harrison Avenue in Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.876901, -97.427370
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
Topics: Manufacturing; Retail; Territorial Period, 1861–1907

This building housed numerous retail establishments when it was erected in 1890. Barber F.E. Knowlton developed his famous Danderine Hair Tonic here. The building was razed in the 1960s.

Land Office

Logan County
Location: at Second Street and Oklahoma Avenue in Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.877894, -97.426715
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Fogarty Jr. High School
Topics: Government; Land Openings; Settlement Patterns; Territorial Period, 1861–1907

On this site stood the federal government's land office where each of the 20,000 persons making the Land Run of 1889 had to appear and file his claim. This was also the site of the first post office in Oklahoma Territory.

Langston

Logan County
Location: on Langston University campus in Langston
Coordinates: 35.942474, -97.260493
Material: Other (Interpretive panel)
Sponsor(s): Oklahoma Historical Society
Topics: Education; Ethnic Diversity; Land Openings; Settlement Patterns; Urban Development

Langston is one of thirteen All-Black towns, out of more than fifty that once existed, remaining in Oklahoma. While Tullahassee is reportedly the oldest, most were established between 1889 and 1907 as African Americans sought security and control of their own destiny in a segregated world. Most of the towns began to decline in the 1920s and 1930s as rural African Americans faced economic hardships and began to move to urban areas. Langston was organized in 1890 by E. P. McCabe, who also boosted Oklahoma as an All-Black state. It takes its name from John M. Langston, a well-known educator and member of Congress. Langston became home to the Colored Agricultural and Normal University (Langston University) in 1897.

Lovell

Logan County
Location: at intersection of OK-74D and Main Street in Lovell
Coordinates: 36.057936, -97.635495
Material: Granite
Topics: Government; Religion/Philosophy; Settlement Patterns; Social/Cultural; Transportation; Urban Development

The Lovell Christian Church was built by area families on this site donated by the J. W. Lovell Family. The first trustees were C. J. Gragg, G. I. Pollard and W. B. Young. The church was chartered in May 1911 and dedicated on July 11, 1911, with 200 in attendance. Pastors were primarily ministerial students from Phillips University Seminary (Enid, OK). The church was closed in 1971. 50-, 60- and 90-year anniversaries of the church were celebrated in 1961, 1971, and 2001. The Town of Lovell was originally named Perth (US Post Office established in May 1889). A nearby hamlet, Standard, merged with Perth in 1902 after a Santa Fe Railroad was built nearby. The Post Office name was changed from Perth to Lovell in February 1906 after James W. Lovell platted sites on his land for town expansion.

Lovell Pioneers and Homesteaders

Logan County
Location: in Lovell, at intersection of OK-74D and Main Street
Coordinates: 36.05749, -97.63567
Material: Granite
Sponsor(s): Lovell Memorial Committee
Topics: Early Statehood, 1907–1941; Land Openings; Settlement Patterns; Territorial Period, 1861–1907

Dedicated in honor of homesteaders and other pioneer settlers of this area. In recognition of their faith and courage to explore the unknown and to endure the Great Depression, two world wars, droughts, and untold hardships, and in appreciation of the heritage of joy and thanksgiving they passed on to succeeding generations. Descendants of these pioneer families respectfully reaffirm our ancestors reverence for freedom, family, and commitment to democracy.

Mineral Wells Park

Logan County
Location: in Mineral Wells Park on south edge of Guthrie (DAR)
Coordinates: 35.869066, -97.425895
Material: Stone
Sponsor(s): Early Day Settlers
Topics: Early Statehood, 1907–1941; Government; Recreational/Service; Social/Cultural; Water

Originally called Island Park, this site received its name from the different waters developed there that reportedly had healing benefits. A huge picnic was held in the park after Oklahoma officially became the 46th state of the Union on November 16, 1907. It also was a favorite camp site for large civic and family groups.

Mulhall

Logan County
Location: on US-77 in Mulhall
Coordinates: 36.065050, -97.406950
Material: Aluminum
Topics: Arts; Folklife; Government; Ranching; Territorial Period, 1861–1907

The post office of Alfred was established here in 1889. The town name was changed the following year to honor Zack Mulhall, an area rancher who also started his own Wild West Show.

Office of E. P. McCabe

Logan County
Location: at South 2nd Street and West Harrison Avenue in Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.877367, -97.427667
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
Topics: Ethnic Diversity; Government; Territorial Period, 1861–1907

Oklahoma–an all black state with a black governor–was the dream of E. P. McCabe, lawyer, farmer, and Republican activist. McCabe vigorously promoted black settlement and assumed role as spokesman for black people in Washington with President Benjamin Harrison. As a candidate for Territorial Governor, he was quoted in the St. Louis Globe - Democrat: Should I become governor, I promise to rule fairly and fearlessly." McCabe became Logan County treasurer by appointment of Gov. Steele in 1890. He served as secretary of the Territorial Legislature in 1890. and was deputy auditor of the Territory from 1897 to 1907. He was chiefly responsible for the founding of Langston and helped in the location and establishment of Langston University.

Oklahoma Building

Logan County
Location: at Division Street and Oklahoma Avenue in Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.878112, -97.425190
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
Topics: Government; Territorial Period, 1861–1907; Transportation

Completed in 1901, this imposing structure was leased to Oklahoma Territory for office space for the final four territorial governors. A basement stable for horses and carriages was the forerunner of today's parking garages.

Oklahoma Daily State Capital

Logan County
Location: at Second Street and Harrison Avenue in Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.876806, -97.427681
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
Topics: Mass Communication; Territorial Period, 1861–1907

This building, completed in 1902, housed Oklahoma Territory's first newspaper and the largest printing plant west of the Mississippi River. In 1975, the building was given to the Oklahoma Historical Society.

Oklahoma Territorial Museum

Logan County
Location: at 402 East Oklahoma Street in Guthrie
Material: Other (Highway sign)
Topics: Early Statehood, 1907–1941; Government; Social/Cultural; Territorial Period, 1861–1907

Portraying the vast panorama of the heritage of Oklahoma Territory, the museum is adjacent to the oldest Carnegie Library in the state. It was on this location that the last territorial governor, Frank Frantz, and the first state governor, Charles N. Haskell, were inaugurated. The structure is one of the best examples of territorial-era architecture

Note: This marker is missing.


Post Office

Logan County
Location: at Second Street and Oklahoma Avenue in Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.877950, -97.427400
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
Topics: Government; Mass Communication; Social/Cultural; Territorial Period, 1861–1907

Dennis T. Flynn opened the Guthrie post office in a tent on April 23, 1889, the day after the famous run of 1889. With volunteer help, he handed out the mail. Within a few weeks, the post office was handling 3,000 letters and 1,000 newspapers daily.

Reeves Brothers Casino

Logan County
Location: at Second Street and Harrison Avenue in Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.877200, -97.427683
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
Topics: Industry/Business; Social/Cultural; Territorial Period, 1861–1907

This notorious gambling house opened in a tent on April 23, 1889. It was later housed in a frame building which gave way to a brick structure. For fifteen years, until prohibition at statehood, the casino never closed its doors, day or night.

Rough Riders

Logan County
Location: 1/2 block east of Hwy-77 on Harrison Street, Guthrie, on south side
Coordinates: 35.876900, -97.424900
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Donald W. Reynolds Foundation

Two weeks after war was declared on Spain, 85 volunteers, mostly members of the Territorial National Guard, on May 5, 1898, filled the Territory's quota as Troop A, 1st United States Volunteer Calvary, the famed "Rough Riders

Roxana

Logan County
Location: on OK-51, one mile east of Kingfisher County line
Coordinates: 36.116229, -97.659737
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
Topics: Early Statehood, 1907–1941; Industry/Business; Natural Resources; Petroleum; Urban Development

Logan County's only boom town was established in 1927 when the No. 1 McCully gushed in as the first mile-deep well in the state. The town declined after a refinery fire in the early 1930s.

Roxana Ranch and Original Townsite of Roxana

Logan County
Location: one mile south of OK-51 on N300 Rd
Coordinates: 36.10155, -97.65721
Material: Granite
Sponsor(s): Private
Topics: Early Statehood, 1907–1942; Industry/Business; Natural Resources; Petroleum; Urban Development

Roxana Oil Co. hit McCully well 29 June 1927. First well in Oklahoma drilled over a mile deep. Town platted 16 July 1927 by George L. Ross. Application to vacate the town site 17 March 1939 except property owned by John J. Traynor, who ran Roxana Service Station. Roxana Ranch founded in 1992.

Run of ’89 North Border

Logan County
Location: on US-77 at Logan-Noble county line, one mile north of Orlando
Coordinates: 36.158890, -97.371849
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
Topics: Land Openings; Settlement Patterns; Territorial Period, 1861–1907

This east-west line notes the location of the north boundary of the Unassigned Lands which were opened for homesteading on April 22, 1889, comprising the major part of six present-day Oklahoma counties.

Same Old Moses Saloon

Logan County
Location: at Second Street and Harrison Avenue in Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.876900, -97.427183
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
Topics: Social/Cultural; Territorial Period, 1861–1907

This was one of the many open saloons that thrived in Guthrie before prohibition came with statehood. When prohibitionist Carry Nation threatened to wield her bar-breaking hatchet against the saloon, the owner posted a sign on the door, "All nations welcome except Carry.

Santa Fe Depot

Logan County
Location: at 409 West Oklahoma Avenue in Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.877917, -97.429400
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
Topics: Land Openings; Settlement Patterns; Territorial Period, 1861–1907; Transportation

The first Santa Fe depot was a small red frame building on the west side of the Santa Fe tracks. The Santa Fe was the only railway into Oklahoma Territory at the time of the 1889 land run. Twenty trains brought up to 1,500 land seekers into the station on the day before the run. The present two-story red brick station was completed in 1903.

Smith’s Two-Story Privy

Logan County
Location: at Division Street and Oklahoma Avenue in Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.878150, -97.425683
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
Topics: Folklife; Industry/Business; Social/Cultural; Territorial Period, 1861–1907

Nathanial McKay was given the right in 1899 to build a two-story brick privy on his property. McKay, who became a Guthrie developer, made the privy accessible from the second floor of adjacent buildings.

State Seal Stolen

Logan County
Location: at East Harrison Avenue and South Broad Street in Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.876867, -97.422650
Material: Stone
Sponsor(s): Fogarty Jr. High School
Topics: Early Statehood, 1907–1941; Government

This building was the state capitol when the state seal was stolen from here and taken to Oklahoma City, on the night of June 11, 1910, thus moving the site of the state capitol. The first university of Oklahoma was located here in 1892. It operated as such for two years.

US Government Land Office

Logan County
Location: on South Second Street in Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.877667, -97.427500
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
Topics: Government; Land Openings; Settlement Patterns; Territorial Period, 1861–1907

A frame building was erected here before the land run of 1889. Thousands of settlers wanting to claim free land were required to register here and at a similar office in Kingfisher.

Victor Building

Logan County
Location: on First Street and Harrison Avenue in Guthrie
Coordinates: 35.877067, -97.426733
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
Topics: Folklife; Industry/Business; Territorial Period, 1861–1907; Urban Development

When it was completed in 1893, the building was hailed as the finest commercial building in Guthrie. Its basement was connected to other downtown buildings by tunnel. The Joseph Foucart design was restored in the 1980s.


(Page 1 of 1)

Search for Markers

Search by marker name or browse by county or subject to learn about more than 700 historical markers recognizing key locations, events, and people in Oklahoma history.

This database contains markers sponsored by the Oklahoma Historical Society and markers created by other organizations. Please note that some markers listed may have been relocated, damaged, or no longer exist.







Browse by County

Le Flore County
Lincoln County
Logan County
Love County
Major County
Marshall County
Mayes County
McClain County
McCurtain County
McIntosh County
Murray County
Muskogee County
Noble County
Okfuskee County
Oklahoma County
Okmulgee County
Osage County
Ottawa County
Pawnee County
Payne County
Pittsburg County
Pontotoc County
Pottawatomie County
Pushmataha County
Roger Mills County
Rogers County
Seminole County
Sequoyah County
Stephens County
Texas County
Tillman County
Tulsa County
Wagoner County
Washington County
Washita County
Woods County
Woodward County


Contact Us

If you have questions, please contact:
Matthew Pearce
Oklahoma Historical Society
800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
405-522-8659
matthew.pearce@history.ok.gov